Tiger Woods avoids prison but loses his driving licence for five years

Tiger Woods will not go to prison over a March crash in Florida, but the 50-year-old golf star will lose his driving licence for five years and pay $1,500 in fines.

Woods reached an agreement with prosecutors in court. The original charge of driving under the influence was reduced to reckless driving. Woods did not plead guilty to the original allegation. Instead, he chose a “no contest” option, meaning he did not challenge the charge without formally admitting guilt.

The case arose from a March 27 crash near Woods’ home on Jupiter Island. He was driving a Range Rover when he tried to overtake a pickup truck towing a trailer. His vehicle struck the trailer, left the road and overturned onto its side. Woods climbed out on his own and was not injured.

Police said he appeared lethargic and was sweating heavily after the crash. They also recorded that his eyes looked bloodshot and glassy. A test found no alcohol, while Woods said he had taken several medications that day. Officers found hydrocodone, a strong prescription painkiller, in his pocket.

Prosecutors said they would have had difficulty proving that the medication actually made Woods unable to drive, leading them to accept the reduced charge. The 15-time major winner has faced previous trouble behind the wheel. In 2017, Florida authorities found him asleep in a car. In 2021, he suffered serious injuries in a crash near Los Angeles, an accident that also threatened his golf career.