Tiger Woods has been banned from driving for five years following a plea agreement related to a car crash in Florida earlier this year. The 50-year-old golf legend pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving and refusing to submit to a lawful drug test during a hearing at Martin County Courthouse in Stuart, Florida, on Wednesday.

The case originated from a March 27 incident near Woods’s home on Jupiter Island, when his Land Rover clipped a pickup truck while attempting to overtake at high speed on a narrow residential road with a 30 mph speed limit. The collision caused Woods’s vehicle to roll onto its side. Both Woods and the truck driver were unharmed. Woods exited the vehicle through the passenger side.

Woods underwent a breathalyzer test at the scene, which showed no presence of alcohol, but he declined to provide a urine sample. Deputies reported finding two prescription painkillers, identified as hydrocodone, in Woods’s pocket, and noted signs of impairment including lethargy and glassy eyes. Woods told authorities he had been looking down at his phone to change the radio station when the crash occurred. Court filings also described unusual behavior and statements made by Woods immediately after the accident.

Originally charged with driving under the influence with property damage, Woods’s charges were reduced to reckless driving—classified as a second offense—and a related careless driving citation as part of the plea deal. He was fined a total of approximately $1,500 and had his driver’s license suspended for five years without eligibility for a hardship exemption. The judge warned Woods that any violation of the driving ban would result in immediate jail time. Woods has 30 days to appeal the ruling.

Florida State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl explained that the decision to accept the plea deal stemmed from a weakening of evidence in the original DUI case. Toxicological experts for both the defense and prosecution concluded that Woods's prescribed use of painkillers had resulted in a pharmacological tolerance, reducing the likelihood that he was impaired during the incident. Medical records indicated that Woods’s use of hydrocodone was consistent with prescribed treatment for chronic pain related to multiple injuries and surgeries.

Woods has a history of traffic incidents, including a 2017 DUI arrest in Florida when he was found asleep behind the wheel, resulting in a reckless driving conviction and completion of a diversion program. He was also severely injured in a 2021 crash in Los Angeles that left him with extensive leg and ankle injuries. The recent crash and legal proceedings led Woods to step away from professional golf temporarily to focus on treatment and recovery, including a stay at a rehabilitation facility in Switzerland.

Woods appeared briefly in court accompanied by his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, former daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump. He did not address the media before or after the hearing.

The PGA Tour has expressed continued support for Woods as he recovers, although some figures in the sport have suggested the need for accountability. Woods has not competed in a PGA Tour event since July 2024 and has struggled with health issues stemming from numerous surgeries and injuries.