Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to reckless driving in Martin County, Florida, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a March rollover crash. County Judge Darren Steele suspended the 50-year-old golfer’s driver’s license for five years and ordered $2,131.44 in fines and court costs, concluding the criminal case without jail time.
Golfer Tiger Woods appeared in a Martin County, Florida courtroom on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, to resolve criminal charges stemming from a single-vehicle rollover crash earlier in the year. The 50-year-old athlete entered a no-contest plea to a reduced charge of willful and wanton reckless driving—his second such offense—alongside a separate count of refusing to submit to a lawful test, according to court documents cited by Yahoo.
Courtroom Proceedings and License Suspension in Martin County
County Judge Darren Steele presided over the change-of-plea hearing at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart, Florida.
Under the terms of the agreement, Woods received a five-year driver’s license suspension on the reckless driving charge and a concurrent five-year suspension on a careless-driving citation. Court records show he agreed not to seek a hardship exemption during the suspension period.
Court records confirm that Woods paid $2,131.44 in total fines and costs following the hearing.
State Attorney Explains Toxicologists’ Findings on Pharmacological Tolerance
State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl defended the decision to accept a reduced plea rather than pursue the original driving under the influence charge. Bakkedahl explained to reporters outside the courthouse that two independent toxicologists reviewed the available evidence and determined there was insufficient proof of impairment.
Prosecutors obtained pharmacy records showing Woods held a lawful prescription for hydrocodone, an opioid painkiller. Deputies discovered two white hydrocodone pills in his pocket following the March crash, according to the arrest report detailed by Associated Press. However, because Woods declined to provide a urine sample after passing a Breathalyzer test that detected no alcohol, toxicologists concluded that years of managing surgical recovery from multiple back and knee procedures had resulted in a pharmacological
tolerance to the medication.
Details of the March 27 Rollover Crash on Jupiter Island
The criminal case originated from a traffic incident on March 27, 2026, near Woods’ home on Jupiter Island, Florida. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek reported that Woods was driving a Land Rover at a high rate of speed on a narrow two-lane road with a 30 mph limit when he attempted to overtake a truck slowing to turn into a driveway.
Woods’ SUV clipped a trailer and overturned onto its driver’s side after sliding along the asphalt. Traveling alone, he managed to crawl out through the passenger side without sustaining physical injuries. Woods told a responding deputy that he had been looking down at his phone to change the radio station when the collision occurred.
Treatment Leave and Subsequent Public Appearances
“I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.”
Tiger Woods
Court records confirmed that Woods traveled outside the United States to complete an inpatient program.
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