Tiger Woods reached a plea agreement Wednesday in Florida stemming from his March rollover crash, avoiding jail time but receiving a five-year suspension of his driver’s license. The 50-year-old golfer appeared in Martin County court in Stuart and entered a no-contest plea to reduced charges. Prosecutors amended the original DUI charge to willful and wanton reckless driving, second offense, while a separate charge involving his refusal to submit to testing was reduced to a careless-driving citation. The two five-year license suspensions will run concurrently.
Woods was initially charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test after the March 27 crash on Jupiter Island. Authorities said his Land Rover struck a truck while he was attempting to pass, causing the SUV to roll onto its side. No one was injured. Deputies reported that Woods showed signs of impairment, while a breath test detected no alcohol. He declined a urine test, and authorities found two hydrocodone pills in his possession. Woods told investigators he had been looking at his phone and changing the radio before the collision.
Martin County State Attorney Alex Bakkedahl said prosecutors ultimately determined they could not establish a DUI case beyond a reasonable doubt. Two forensic toxicologists who reviewed the evidence concluded there was insufficient proof that Woods was impaired and indicated he had developed a tolerance to hydrocodone. Prosecutors also had no urine sample to establish what substances were in his system at the time of the crash.
Woods was ordered to pay $1,500 in fines, according to court reporting, and Judge Darren Steele warned him that driving during the suspension would result in immediate jail time. Woods arrived and left court with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, and did not answer questions from reporters.
The case has also affected Woods’ golf schedule. After his arrest, he announced that he was stepping away from competition to seek treatment and subsequently spent several weeks at a treatment facility in Switzerland. The 15-time major champion has not competed in a PGA Tour event since the 2024 British Open.
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