Tiger Woods loses driving licence for five years after drug-driving case

Tiger Woods will not be allowed to drive for five years after reaching a plea deal in a case involving driving under the influence of drugs.

The five-time major winner initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea at a hearing on Wednesday. Judge Darren Steele announced that two five-year licence suspensions would run concurrently, one for reckless driving and the other for careless driving.

“There are no exceptions. If you got behind the wheel for any reason, you would go straight back to prison,” Steele said in court.

The case followed a March crash in which Woods' vehicle overturned and ended up on its roof. Woods told authorities he had been looking at his mobile phone and did not notice that a truck ahead of him had slowed down. Nobody was injured.

According to the official probable-cause report, police found two hydrocodone tablets in Woods' pocket. Officers said he appeared lethargic and slow, was sweating heavily, and had bloodshot, glassy eyes and extremely dilated pupils. Hydrocodone is a painkiller that can cause addiction when taken in excessive doses.

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There are no exceptions. If you got behind the wheel for any reason, you would go straight back to prison.