Tiger Woods to change not guilty plea in Florida DUI case, court records show

Tiger Woods intends to amend his not guilty plea in a Florida DUI case stemming from a rollover crash, as per court records. In March, Woods' Land Rover collided with a truck and rolled over; the golfer was subsequently arrested. Woods initially pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence in Martin County circuit court, located north of Palm Beach County.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for a plea conference hearing. The specifics of the plea modification have not been disclosed. Woods' attorney, Doug Duncan, and the State Attorney's Office have not yet responded to inquiries from The Associated Press for further information. According to an arrest report, Woods was driving the Land Rover at high speeds on a beachside residential road in Jupiter Island, with a 30 mph speed limit.

The crash caused $5,000 in damages to the truck, and Woods managed to exit the vehicle without injury. He claimed he was distracted by his phone and adjusting the radio when the incident occurred. Deputies noted that Woods seemed impaired during questioning and various sobriety tests. Although a Breathalyzer test showed a zero alcohol level, Woods refused to provide a urine sample.

The arrest report stated that Woods admitted to taking prescription medications, including two hydrocodone pills found in his pants pocket. The golfer has visited an inpatient treatment facility abroad to seek help. In July, Judge Darren Steele approved an agreement allowing prosecutors to review Woods' medical records related to the crash and arrest.

A similar agreement in May grants prosecutors access to all prescription medication records for Woods at a Palm Beach pharmacy from the beginning of the year through March. Woods, 50, is a prominent figure in golf, comparable to any athlete globally. A first Black winner of the Masters in 1997, he has set records unlikely to be broken.

However, his career has been impacted by numerous back and knee surgeries, car accidents, and pain pill addiction. He has been involved in four crashes throughout his career. In 2021, Woods survived a crash in Los Angeles that severely injured his right leg, with doctors considering amputation. He was also arrested for DUI in 2017, with Florida police finding him asleep at the wheel.

In 2009, his SUV collided with a fire hydrant and a tree outside his Orlando home, leading to a leave from the golf tour, which he has not returned to since. Woods made his first public appearance since his treatment on June 23, introducing the PGA Tour's plans to overhaul its schedule for 2028. Despite his arrest, he remained chairman of the tour's Future Competition Committee and did not accept any questions during that appearance.