Tiger Woods avoids jail time with DUI plea deal that includes long-term license suspension, more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Over five months after his arrest in Florida for suspicion of DUI, Tiger Woods entered a plea deal on Wednesday.
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The 50-year-old star golfer, who has been on a hiatus from the sport throughout his legal situation, pleaded no contest to his charges on Wednesday in Florida, according to ESPN.
As part of the terms of his deal, Woods will not be permitted to drive a vehicle for five years.
Here’s what to know about the fallout of Woods’ DUI arrest and the details of his plea deal.
MORE: How Scottie Scheffler broke Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour earnings record
Tiger Woods’ DUI plea deal
Initially, Woods pleaded not guilty to his charges after being arrested in March on suspicion of DUI and refusal to submit to a lawful test. However, he changed that decision ahead of his court appearance on Wednesday, per ESPN.
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Woods instead pleaded no contest a reduced charge of reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test in Martin County Circuit Court, according to ESPN. As part of a plea deal he’s now entering, Woods had his driver’s license suspended and agreed to pay $1,500 in fines.
Per ESPN, Judge Darren Steele told Woods that the suspended license “is for the safety of the public.”
“There are no exceptions,” Steele said. “If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would go immediately back to jail.”
Woods arrived at the courthouse with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, and reportedly did not speak much during the hearing. He left afterward without speaking to reporters.
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How long will Tiger Woods’ license be suspended?
Woods will have his driver’s license suspended for five years as part of his plea deal.
His no-contest plea was not a legal admission of guilt, it is treated as a conviction in the justice system, as he offered no defense in his case.
Other terms of Tiger Woods’ plea deal
On top of his five-year suspended license, Woods was ordered to pay $1,500 in fines, per ESPN.
He was also found guilty of careless driving.
What did Tiger Woods do?
Woods was arrested on March 27, 2026, near his home in Florida on suspicion of DUI after his vehicle hit the side of a trailer being hauled by a truck, rolling his SUV on its side.
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Woods refused to submit to a urinalysis or blood test for other drugs, but a breathalyzer showed no signs of alcohol in his system. In a police report, the star golfer was reported to have been “sweating profusely” with his movement being “lethargic and slow.” Police found two hydrocodone pills in Woods’ left pants pocket, and they later obtained his prescription drug records.
After his arrest, Woods announced he was stepping away from golf for an indefinite period, and he spent time at an in-patient treatment facility in Switzerland.
What substance did Tiger Woods take?
Because Woods refused a urinalysis or blood test in March at the time of his arrest, pleaded no contest in his case and his prescription drug records were not released to the public, it is unclear what substance Woods may or may not have been under the influence of at the time of his car crash.
However, in the police report, officers said they found two hydrocodone pills, an opioid painkiller, in Woods’ left pants pocket.
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