Tiger Woods appeared in a Florida courtroom Wednesday to resolve criminal charges from his March rollover accident. The 50-year-old golf icon reversed his earlier not guilty plea during the morning hearing in Stuart. Prosecutors agreed to drop his initial charge of driving under the influence. Instead, Woods pleaded no contest to reckless driving and refusing a lawful sobriety test. His girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, accompanied him inside the Martin County Courthouse to offer support.
Judge Darren Steele formally accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Woods immediately. Under the deal, the court suspended his driver’s license for five years. He also agreed not to seek any hardship exemption during that time. In addition, the judge ordered Woods to pay more than $2,100 in fines and court fees. Judge Steele delivered a stern warning from the bench regarding the driving ban. He warned that driving for any reason would land Woods in jail immediately.
The case stemmed from a chaotic crash on Jupiter Island on March 27, 2026. Authorities reported that Woods drove his Land Rover at high speed on a narrow two-lane road. The posted speed limit on that residential street was only 30 miles per hour. Woods tried to pass a slow-moving truck that was turning into a driveway. His SUV struck a trailer, slid along the pavement, and flipped onto its side. Fortunately, neither Woods nor the other driver suffered major physical injuries. Woods crawled out of the overturned vehicle through the passenger window.
TIGER WOODS ON HIS DUI: “I Wasn’t Drunk, I Was On Drugs … Again!” (Video)
Arriving deputies noted that Woods showed clear signs of impairment at the scene. He told officers he had looked down at his phone while changing radio stations. A breath test registered zero alcohol in his system. However, deputies discovered two hydrocodone pain pills inside his pocket. Woods refused a chemical urine test, leading to his arrest and booking. He later admitted taking medications that morning for blood pressure, cholesterol, and pain.
Shortly after his March arrest, Woods stepped away from golf to prioritize his physical health. A judge granted him permission to travel abroad for specialized inpatient therapy. He returned to public life in late June at a PGA Tour event. Today’s sentencing closes the legal fallout from the violent rollover. His fans and colleagues now await word on when he might return to professional play. For now, the 15-time major champion remains focused on recovery rather than competition. He leaves the courtroom without jail time but faces half a decade off the road.
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