By Dorcas Francis Koji
Golf legend Tiger Woods has had his driving licence suspended for five years after reaching a plea agreement over a rollover crash in Florida earlier this year.
The 15-time major champion appeared before a court in Martin County, Florida, on Wednesday, where he pleaded no contest to lesser charges of careless and reckless driving.
The agreement resulted in the more serious driving under the influence (DUI) charge being dropped. Woods had faced the possibility of jail time if convicted of the original DUI offence.
“If you were to drive for any reason at all you would go immediately back to jail,” Judge Darren Steele warned Woods during the hearing, which was livestreamed from the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart.
The case stems from a March 27 crash near Woods’ home in Jupiter Island. Authorities said his SUV clipped a truck towing a trailer before overturning while he attempted to pass on a residential road.
Investigators determined that Woods had not consumed alcohol before the crash but concluded that he appeared to be impaired.
The 50-year-old golfer, who has undergone several back surgeries and suffered serious leg injuries in a 2021 car accident in California, was found carrying two pills containing the opioid painkiller hydrocodone.
Woods also refused to provide a urine sample and was subsequently arrested, charged and released on bond.
During the Wednesday hearing, Woods was accompanied by his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, the former wife of Donald Trump Jr.
US President Donald Trump, a well-known golf enthusiast, described Woods as a “great guy” and said he considered the outcome of the case “very fair.”
“He’s going to have somebody drive him,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that he had previously encouraged Woods to hire a driver.
Woods had initially pleaded not guilty to DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test. At the time, he told authorities that he had been looking at his phone and changing radio stations when the crash occurred.
Following the incident, Woods announced that he was stepping away from public activities to focus on his health and treatment.
He later travelled outside the United States for treatment at an inpatient facility, reportedly in Switzerland.
Woods returned to the public spotlight in June when he attended the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship. He introduced PGA Tour Chief Executive Brian Rolapp, who unveiled plans for a new competitive structure scheduled to take effect in 2028.
As chairman of the Future Competition Committee, Woods has played a significant role in developing the proposed two-tier system, featuring a PGA Tour Championship Series and a Challenger Series designed to provide golfers with a pathway to the top level.
Despite his continued involvement in shaping the future of professional golf, Woods has not competed in an official PGA Tour event since July 2024.
The five-year driving suspension now adds another significant challenge to the former world number one’s difficult period away from competitive golf.
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