Professional golfer Tiger Woods appeared in a Martin County courtroom on Wednesday to enter a plea of guilty to a reckless driving charge. The legal development follows a rollover crash in March near his Jupiter Island residence, which initially led to a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. Under the terms of the plea agreement, a judge has ordered a five-year suspension of his driving licence.
The 50-year-old athlete, who remained largely silent during the proceedings, was accompanied to the courthouse by his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump. During the hearing, Woods sat at the defence table while his partner observed from the gallery behind him. The incident occurred when his SUV clipped a truck on a residential road, causing the vehicle to flip onto its side. While official reports indicate that neither Woods nor the driver of the other vehicle sustained injuries, the collision resulted in approximately $5,000 in damages to the truck.
Law enforcement records note that deputies discovered two pain pills in Woods’ possession at the scene and observed signs of impairment. Although he successfully passed a breathalyser test, he declined a urine analysis. Woods later explained to a deputy that the collision occurred while he was distracted by his mobile phone and the vehicle’s radio controls.
This legal resolution marks another chapter in a career frequently interrupted by health challenges, including multiple back and knee surgeries, as well as a history of four separate vehicle accidents. Following the March crash, Woods took an extended leave from professional golf and sought treatment at an inpatient facility outside the United States. He has not returned to tournament play since the incident.
Woods made his first public appearance since his treatment on June 23, where he presented the PGA Tour’s Despite the legal proceedings, he has maintained his position as chairman of the tour’s Future Competition Committee. He did not address questions from the media during that appearance, having previously taken a similar hiatus from the sport following a 2009 accident. The report also notes that but his Land Rover caused $5,000 in damage to the truck, according to a police report. The report also notes that woods has been involved in four crashes over the years.
