Tiger Woods has been banned from driving for five years after reaching a plea agreement in an impaired-driving case linked to a rollover crash in Florida earlier this year.
The 15-time major golf champion appeared at the Martin County Courthouse on Wednesday, 2 September, where he changed the not guilty plea he had previously entered.
Woods entered a no-contest plea and was adjudicated guilty at the hearing, according to Reuters. The agreement allowed him to avoid jail and brought the criminal case arising from the March crash to a close.
Charges reduced under plea agreement
Woods had initially faced a charge of driving under the influence with property damage, as well as refusing to submit to a lawful test.
As part of the agreement, prosecutors amended the DUI charge to reckless driving, second offence. The other charge was reduced to a careless-driving citation.
The court imposed a five-year suspension of Woods’ driving licence on both charges, with the suspensions running at the same time.
The judge warned Woods that the restriction must be taken seriously and that driving during the suspension could result in him being sent back to jail.
Case followed March rollover crash
The case began after a crash on 27 March on Jupiter Island in Martin County, Florida.
Authorities said Woods was attempting to pass a truck when his vehicle clipped a trailer being pulled by the truck and rolled onto its side.
No one was seriously injured.
Woods told authorities after the crash that he had been distracted by his phone and was adjusting the radio before the collision.
According to a probable cause affidavit cited by Reuters, officers described Woods as lethargic and slow, with bloodshot and glassy eyes and extremely dilated pupils. They also reported that he was sweating heavily.
Two hydrocodone pills were found in his pocket.
A breath test found no alcohol in Woods’ system. However, authorities said he refused to provide a urine sample, which could have been used to test for drugs or medication.
Woods initially pleaded not guilty
Following his arrest, Woods entered a not guilty plea to the charges.
His lawyer, Douglas Duncan, later filed documents requesting a change-of-plea hearing before Martin County Judge Darren Steele.
Before Wednesday’s hearing, the details of the new plea had not been publicly disclosed.
The case had therefore remained open until Woods appeared in court and accepted the agreement.
Earlier in the proceedings, Judge Steele had allowed Woods to travel outside the United States to receive treatment in a controlled environment.
Woods had also announced that he was stepping away for a period to seek treatment and focus on his health.
Another difficult chapter for golf legend
The case adds another difficult chapter to the career of one of golf’s most successful players.
Woods, 50, has won 15 major championships, placing him second behind Jack Nicklaus, who won 18. He has also recorded 82 victories on the PGA Tour, sharing the record with Sam Snead.
His career has included several major comebacks after injuries and personal setbacks.
The Florida crash also drew attention because Woods had previously suffered serious injuries in a high-speed vehicle crash in California in 2021.
His latest court case, however, centred specifically on the events surrounding the March 2026 crash and the evidence gathered by Florida authorities.
Wednesday’s agreement means the case has now ended without a trial.
For Woods, the immediate legal consequence is clear: he will not be permitted to drive for five years. The agreement also allows him to avoid a possible jail sentence and move forward from a case that had remained unresolved for several months.
Source: Reuters, 2 September 2026
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