Tiger Woods Returns To Court To Enter Stunning Plea

Tiger Woods is preparing to change his not guilty plea in the Florida DUI case stemming from his March rollover crash, marking a significant turn in a case that has kept the 15-time major champion in court for months.

Woods, 50, originally pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges on March 31. Court records now show that he is scheduled to appear Wednesday for a change-of-plea hearing. Whether that change comes as part of an agreement with prosecutors remains unclear.

The charges include property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

According to police , Woods was driving at high speed along a beachside road in Jupiter Island, Florida, when his Land Rover clipped a tractor-trailer and rolled onto its side. Authorities estimated the damage to the other vehicle at roughly $5,000.

Woods escaped the Land Rover without suffering injuries. He later told officers that he had been looking at his phone and changing the radio around the time of the collision.

Police Say Opioids Were Found After the Crash

A Breathalyzer test detected no alcohol in his system. Police said Woods refused to provide a urine sample; however, deputies reported finding two opioid tablets in his pocket. The sheriff's report also stated that Woods displayed signs of impairment.

The investigation later expanded to include Woods' medical and prescription records.

In July, Martin County Circuit Court Judge Darren Steele approved an agreement allowing prosecutors to request hospital records associated with Woods' treatment following the crash. Steele had previously approved a similar arrangement in May that gave prosecutors access to prescription medication records from Woods' Palm Beach pharmacy covering the period from January 1 through the March collision.

Those records are subject to a protective order restricting their release to prosecutors, law enforcement, state experts and Woods' defense team.

The case has unfolded while Woods has remained largely removed from competitive golf. Before the March crash, he had reportedly been moving toward another comeback and was widely expected to compete at the Masters.

Woods has not played competitively since the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Since then, he has undergone surgery for a torn Achilles as well as a seventh procedure on his back.

The March collision also added another chapter to Woods' long history of highly publicized incidents behind the wheel.

In February 2021, Woods suffered serious injuries when the SUV he was driving left the road in California and rolled down an embankment. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said he was traveling at approximately 80 mph in an area where the speed limit was substantially lower. He was not charged with driving under the influence in that case.

Four years earlier, Woods encountered police near his Florida home under very different circumstances.

In May 2017, Jupiter police found him unconscious behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz at approximately 3 a.m. Officers found the vehicle stopped awkwardly along the roadside, with signs of damage.

Once again, alcohol was not detected. Toxicology testing instead found several substances, including the active ingredient in marijuana, the painkillers Vicodin and Dilaudid, the sleep medication Ambien and the anti-anxiety medication Xanax.

Woods said afterward that he had experienced an unexpected reaction to prescription medications while attempting to manage pain and insomnia following back surgery.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving. His sentence included one year of probation, a $250 fine, and 50 hours of community service. He was also prohibited from drinking alcohol during his probation.

That summer, Woods announced that he had completed a private treatment program dealing with his use of pain medication.

"I will continue to tackle this going forward with my doctors, family and friends," Woods wrote at the time. "I am so very thankful for all of the support I've received."

From the 2009 Crash to a New Florida Court Date

But the driving incident that became inseparable from Woods' public downfall occurred years earlier.

In November 2009, Woods crashed his Cadillac Escalade near his Florida home, striking a fire hydrant, a tree, and several hedges. He suffered minor injuries and received a citation for careless driving.

The crash happened just days after the National Enquirer published allegations linking Woods romantically to New York nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel. What initially appeared to be a relatively minor single-vehicle accident quickly became part of the intense scrutiny surrounding Woods' personal life and marriage to Elin Nordegren.

Now, nearly 17 years after that episode, Woods is again heading into a Florida courtroom because of an incident behind the wheel.

This time, however, prosecutors have obtained medical and prescription information connected to the case, and Woods' decision to change his original not guilty plea suggests Wednesday's hearing could substantially alter the course of the proceedings. Exactly what plea Woods intends to enter, and whether prosecutors have agreed to any concessions in return, has yet to be disclosed.