Tiger Woods altered his plea to guilty for reckless driving on Wednesday in connection with his DUI incident in Florida, months after initially pleading not guilty to two misdemeanor charges.
The renowned golfer accepted a five-year suspension of his driver’s license along with a $1,000 fine. During the court session at the Martin County Courthouse, Woods was observed smiling.
Woods had previously entered a not guilty plea concerning charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to comply with a lawful test.
A press conference has been set for 9:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
The charges against Woods are linked to a rollover accident that occurred in March on Jupiter Island, Florida. According to officials, Woods’ Land Rover struck a truck and flipped onto its side. An arrest report indicated that he was driving at excessive speeds on a residential road with a 30 mph speed limit, causing $5,000 worth of damage to the vehicle he collided with.
Woods was not injured in the incident and reportedly told deputies that he had been distracted by his phone and adjusting the radio at the time of the crash. Officers at the scene noted signs of impairment. Although he consented to a Breathalyzer test that showed no alcohol in his system, he declined a urine test. He also informed the police that he had taken “a few” prescription medications, and two pills later identified as hydrocodone were discovered in his pants pocket.
Following his arrest, Woods initially pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge, stating his intention to “step away for a period of time to seek treatment” and to focus on “lasting recovery.” His first public appearance after his treatment occurred in June, during which he announced the PGA Tour’s plans to modify its schedule for 2028.
At 50 years old, Woods is regarded as one of the most significant personalities in the sport of golf. He made history in 1997 as the first golfer of Black descent to win the Masters Tournament. Despite his record-breaking achievements, his career has been overshadowed by various car accidents, a dependency on pain medication, and multiple surgeries on his back and knees.
Woods experienced a severe crash in 2021 in Los Angeles, resulting in serious injuries to his right leg, with doctors contemplating amputation. In 2017, he was arrested for DUI after being found asleep at the wheel of his vehicle in Florida. Following that incident, he acknowledged having mixed painkillers. In 2009, he crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his home near Orlando, Florida.
