Tiger Woods pleaded guilty to reduced driving charges in a Florida court on Wednesday, resolving a case that followed a March rollover crash near his home on Jupiter Island.
🚨 TIGER WOODS just took the deal.
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 2, 2026
Plea in his Florida DUI case after the rollover crash. No one was injured. Thank God.
The price: no driver’s license for FIVE YEARS.
Second Florida DUI case. First one, he cut a deal too. This time they took the keys.
Rehab. Lawyers. A… pic.twitter.com/kTisd0KbIz
The 50-year-old golf champion had initially pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test. He appeared in Martin County court for a change-of-plea hearing, accompanied by partner Vanessa Trump.
Reports following the hearing said Woods will lose his driving privileges for five years and avoid jail time under the plea resolution. Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving, while reporting on the second reduced count has varied between careless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test. The formal court docket is expected to provide the definitive wording of the disposition.
The case arose from a March 27 crash in which Woods’ Land Rover struck a truck towing a trailer and rolled onto its side. No serious injuries were reported.
What happened in the Jupiter Island crash?
Woods was arrested after the crash on a residential road on Jupiter Island, north of Palm Beach. According to the arrest report cited by the Associated Press, Woods’ vehicle clipped a truck hauling a pressure-cleaning trailer before overturning.
The road had a 30mph speed limit. Authorities said the collision caused about $5,000 in damage to the truck, while Woods was able to climb out of his vehicle without a serious injury.
Deputies said Woods told them he had looked down at his phone and was changing the radio station before the collision. Officers reported signs of impairment during their roadside investigation and while Woods performed field sobriety exercises.
A breath test reportedly registered zero alcohol. However, authorities said Woods refused to provide a urine sample. The arrest report also said deputies found two pills later identified as hydrocodone in his pocket.
Officers documented bloodshot or glassy eyes, dilated pupils, sweating and lethargic movements in the report. Woods reportedly told police he had taken prescription medication earlier in the day.
How the case moved from DUI charges to a plea
Prosecutors initially charged Woods with DUI involving property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Both were misdemeanour allegations. He entered not-guilty pleas soon after the arrest.
His attorney later filed notice of a change-of-plea hearing, which was moved forward from a later September court date. Woods then appeared before the Martin County court on Wednesday to resolve the case.
Reporting after the hearing said the original DUI allegation was reduced as part of the agreement. Woods received a five-year driving ban, with reports also stating that he was fined $1,000 on the reckless-driving count and $500 on the additional reduced count.
A judge reportedly warned Woods about the consequences of future violations. No jail sentence was imposed under the agreement.
The ruling closes the immediate criminal case, although any further detail from court records could clarify the final charge language and conditions attached to the plea.
Woods stepped away from golf after the arrest to seek treatment. Court records previously showed that he was granted permission to travel outside the United States for inpatient care. Prosecutors were also allowed limited access to prescription and medical records connected to the case.
The March crash was not Woods’ first serious vehicle incident. He survived a high-speed crash in Los Angeles in 2021 that caused major injuries to his right leg, and he was arrested in Florida in 2017 before later pleading guilty to reckless driving.
Even away from tournament golf, Woods remains one of the sport’s most recognisable figures. He has won 15 major championships and shares the PGA Tour record for most career victories. His absence has been notable during a year of major sports headlines, including Naomi Osaka’s viral appearance at the US Open.
This report is based on court reporting and accounts published by the Associated Press and other U.S. news outlets. Swikblog will update this article when the final Martin County court record is available.
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