By , , Elizabeth Wolfe and Emily Goodwin
Stuart, Florida — Golf icon Tiger Woods has reached an agreement with prosecutors on a lesser charge after his driving under the influence arrest following a March rollover crash.
Woods, 50, appeared Wednesday morning before a state judge in Martin County, Florida, after the parties reached an agreement reducing to willful reckless driving the misdemeanor charges of DUI and refusal to submit to testing to which Woods had pleaded not guilty.
Woods agreed to have his driver’s license suspended for five years and pay $1,500 in fines.
“For the safety of the public, if you drive, you will immediately go back to jail,” state Judge Darren Steele told Woods.
The televised court hearing marked the latest chapter in a series of vehicle crashes and setbacks for the 15-time major champion as he’s tried to rebound following years of injuries.
Another crash in a difficult cycle
The golf champion failed a sobriety test in March after crashing his car not far from his home in Martin County, Florida, according to an arrest affidavit. Woods denied drinking any alcohol but told deputies he had taken “a few” prescription medications that day and had prescription opioids in his pocket, the affidavit said.
Though Woods walked away unscathed from the March crash, it hurled the sports legend into a now-familiar cycle of public crash-outs and emotional comebacks.
Woods’ Land Rover crossed over double solid lines on a residential street and “maneuvered around” another vehicle with an attached trailer, the affidavit said. Woods’ vehicle struck the trailer, causing his SUV to flip onto its driver’s side, the affidavit said.
The other driver helped Woods climb out of his passenger side while the Land Rover lay overturned, the affidavit said.
Woods told a deputy he had not seen the other vehicle slowing down because he was looking at his cell phone and changing the radio station, according to the affidavit.
He then made errors during field sobriety exercises and deputies found two hydrocodone pills – a prescription opioid used to treat severe, chronic pain – in his pocket, the affidavit said.
No alcohol was detected in a breath test taken by Woods at the Martin County Jail, the affidavit said. But Woods refused to participate in a urine test that could have helped determine whether he had consumed chemical or controlled substances.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said in a statement following his arrest. He announced he would step away “to seek treatment and focus on my health,” a decision necessary for him to “work toward lasting recovery.”
Since 2009, Woods has been involved in several vehicular incidents, including a careless driving citation and a serious rollover that left him with severe injuries and a long path to rehabilitation.
His reputation also had to recover from a 2017 incident that bore some similarities to today’s case.
In that case, Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving after he was arrested in Florida under suspicion of driving under the influence. A toxicology report found he had pain, anxiety and sleeping medications, along with THC – a compound found in marijuana – in his system. As part of a plea deal, Woods attended a DUI first-offender program.
After more than a year away from competitive golf, Woods briefly competed this March at the TGL Finals tournament. Speculation he may have been readying for a sensational Masters return in April was scrapped after his latest car crash.
Woods on Sunday congratulated PGA Tour golfer Scottie Scheffler, who won the Tour Championship, claiming a second FedEx Cup title and surpassing Woods for the most PGA Tour career earnings.
“Three wins, five runner-ups and finishing the season No. 1. Those are some numbers to be proud of,” Woods posted on X. “Incredible consistency all season long. Congrats on a historic season, Scottie.”
CNN’s David Close, Vivian Kuo and Meridith Edwards contributed to this reporting.
This story has been updated with additional information.
