Tiger Woods will have his driving license suspended for five years after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving, in a deal that allows him to avoid jail time related to his March arrest for driving under the influence, according to CBS Sports.
The 15-time major champion appeared in a Martin County court on Wednesday and changed his plea from not guilty to guilty. Under the terms of the agreement, Woods will pay a fine and face jail time if he violates the deal.
Woods, 50, was initially charged with a misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test following a rollover crash near his home on Jupiter Island. Officers at the scene observed signs of impairment. Although Woods submitted to a breathalyser test that recorded a 0.0 reading, authorities stated their observations suggested impairment by medication or another substance. Woods refused to take a urinalysis test.
Since the arrest, Woods has largely remained out of the public eye. In April, he announced he would miss the Masters to seek treatment outside the United States and subsequently did not compete during the PGA Tour season.
The March crash was Woods’ fourth known car accident since 2009. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving following a DUI arrest in Jupiter, where police found him asleep behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. As part of that agreement, he completed a DUI diversion program and 50 hours of community service.
Woods also sustained serious leg injuries in a rollover crash in Southern California in February 2021. Authorities found no evidence of impairment or intoxication in that incident.
Unlike the 2021 crash, Woods did not report any physical injuries after the March accident. However, it effectively ended his hopes of returning to competitive golf during the 2026 PGA Tour season.
Before the March accident, Woods had been working on his fitness and golf swing following back surgery, aiming for another comeback. He competed in the TGL Finals and was considering participation in the 2026 Masters.
Instead, his involvement in golf this season has been mostly off the course, including serving on a PGA Tour committee working on the circuit’s planned two-series structure for 2028 and a revamped Tour Championship.
The plea agreement brings the criminal case arising from the March crash closer to resolution, with Woods facing a five-year suspension of his driving license.