Tiger Woods has pleaded no contest to a reduced reckless driving charge after prosecutors dropped the original drink-driving allegation arising from a rollover crash in Florida.
The 50-year-old golf champion appeared before Judge Darren Steele at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Under the agreement, his driving licence will be suspended for five years and he must pay US$1,500 (£1,118) in fines.
Woods initially denied charges of driving under the influence and refusing to submit to testing. The first charge was amended to willful reckless driving, while the second was reduced to a careless driving citation.
The court entered a judgment of guilty after Woods’ no-contest plea. Such a plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction in the criminal justice system.
Woods spoke only briefly during the five-minute hearing, answering “yes” to the judge’s questions about the agreement. His girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, sat behind him in court, and the pair spoke before the proceedings began.
“For the safety of the public, if you drive, you will immediately go back to jail,” Judge Steele warned him.
Tiger Woods crash followed failed sobriety exercises
The case stems from a crash on March 27 on Jupiter Island, near Woods’ home. His Land Rover crossed double solid lines while attempting to manoeuvre around another vehicle towing a trailer, struck it and overturned.
Neither Woods nor the other driver was injured, although police said the collision caused about US$5,000 (£3,730) in damage to the other vehicle.
According to an arrest affidavit, Woods told deputies he had been looking at his mobile phone and changing the radio station when he failed to notice traffic slowing ahead. He denied drinking alcohol but said he had taken several prescription medications.
Deputies said Woods showed signs of impairment during field sobriety exercises and that two hydrocodone pills, a prescription opioid, were found in his pocket. A breath test detected no alcohol, but Woods refused to provide a urine sample that could have been used to test for drugs or medication.
After his arrest, Woods said he understood the seriousness of the situation and would step away to seek treatment and concentrate on his health. Court records later showed he left the United States for inpatient treatment.
The plea deal marks the latest setback in a difficult period for the 15-time major champion, whose career has been interrupted by extensive injuries and several vehicle incidents. Woods has not returned to regular tournament golf since making a brief appearance at the TGL Finals in March.
