Tiger Woods banned from driving for 5 years as part of DUI plea deal

Professional golfer Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to reduced charges of reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in a plea deal in his DUI case in Martin County Circuit Court in Florida.

Woods' driver's license was suspended for five years as part of the agreement, and he agreed to pay $1,500 in fines.

Woods' SUV collided with a trailer being hauled by a truck on a busy Florida roadway on March 27, causing his vehicle to roll onto its side.

Woods told police responding at the scene that he had looked down at his phone and adjusted his radio, failing to see the vehicle in front of him slowing down.

But officers at the scene said Woods was "sweating profusely," according to an arrest affidavit.

Woods failed several sobriety tests at the scene, according to the arrest affidavit. Responding officers also found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket after the crash.

'No exceptions' to suspended license for Tiger Woods

Judge Darren Steele said there were "no exceptions" to the driving ban for five years for Woods.

"Sir, I want you to understand that five years of driving is for the safety of the public. There are no exceptions," he said. "If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would go immediately back to jail."

Woods hasn't competed on the PGA Tour since July 2024.

USA TODAY Sports' Elizabeth Flores contributed to this story.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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