London [UK], September 3: Tiger Woods has been banned from driving for five years and hit with a fine after entering a plea agreement for reckless driving following a car crash in Florida in March.
The 15-time major winner was arrested and spent eight hours in jail before being bailed after his Land Rover rolled over in a collision with a pick-up truck towing a trailer.
He had previously entered a written plea of not guilty via his lawyers to charges of driving under the influence, property damage and a refusal to submit to testing.
Appearing at Martin County Courthouse on Wednesday morning, he agreed to the lesser charge, with Judge Darren Steele ordering Woods' driving licence be suspended for five years alongside a fine of $1,000.
An additional careless driving citation also carries a five-year suspension, but the judge allowed that to run concurrently.
Woods walked away unhurt from the crash, escaping out of his passenger door, and, while he passed a breathalyser test for alcohol, the 50-year-old refused to submit to a urinary test for drugs. That refusal earned him an additional $500.
According to the initial police affidavit, Woods was observed by the investigating officers to be "sweating profusely" while acting "lethargic and slow" with eyes that were "bloodshot and glassy".
He admitted he "was looking down at his cell phone and changing the radio station" in the moments before the crash and "did not notice the vehicle in front of him had slowed down".
Woods told the authorities he had not consumed any alcohol but admitted to taking "a few" prescription medications and had done so earlier in the morning while insisting he had not had any illegal drugs.
Multiple sobriety exercises were conducted, where he struggled to follow instructions, leading a deputy to conclude: "How he performed on the exercises and based on my training, knowledge and experience, I believe Woods' normal faculties were impaired and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle."
Woods underwent emergency surgery after suffering multiple leg injuries following a serious car accident in California in February 2021. He has not competed on the PGA Tour since July 2024.
Source: Qatar Tribune