Law & Justice
Tiger Woods driver's license suspended for five years
Tiger Woods had his driver's license suspended for five years on Wednesday after reaching a plea agreement in a case stemming from a March rollover crash in Florida.
Under the agreement, a more serious driving under the influence charge was dropped. Woods pleaded no contest to lesser charges of careless and reckless driving.
“If you were to drive for any reason at all you would go immediately back to jail,” Judge Darren Steele told Woods during a livestreamed hearing at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart, Florida.
Woods, 50, was involved in a March 27 crash near his Jupiter Island home. His SUV clipped a truck pulling a trailer and flipped on its side while he was trying to pass on a residential road.
Authorities determined that Woods had not been drinking alcohol but found that he appeared to be impaired. He had two pills containing the opioid painkiller hydrocodone in his pocket. Woods refused a urine test, was charged, jailed and released on bond.
Woods initially pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test. He told authorities he had been looking at his phone and changing radio channels when the crash occurred. Days later, he said he was stepping away to seek treatment and focus on his health.
President Donald Trump called Woods a “great guy” and said he believed the resolution was “very fair.” Trump said Woods would now need someone else to drive him.
Woods has undergone multiple back operations and surgeries for severe leg injuries suffered in a 2021 California car crash. He last played in an official PGA Tour event in July 2024.
Update
President Donald Trump described Woods as a “great guy” and said he believed the resolution of the case was “very fair.”
Trump said Woods would need someone else to drive him after the five-year license suspension.
Woods was accompanied at the court hearing by Vanessa Trump.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 18:57:40 UTC.
Update
Woods agreed to plead no contest to careless and reckless driving under the plea agreement.
Woods initially told authorities he was looking at his phone and changing radio channels when the crash occurred.
Woods later said he was stepping away to seek treatment and focus on his health.
Woods made his first public appearance since his arrest at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship in June.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 14:09:49 UTC.
Update
Judge Darren Steele warned Woods that driving during the suspension would send him back to jail.
The more serious driving under the influence charge was dropped under a plea agreement.
Authorities determined Woods had not been drinking alcohol but found that he appeared to be impaired.
Woods had two pills containing hydrocodone in his pocket and refused a urine analysis.
Woods has travelled outside the United States to seek treatment at an inpatient facility, reportedly in Switzerland.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 13:30:47 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .