Tiger Woods to Change Plea in DUI Case Following Florida Crash

Tiger Woods, the renowned golfer, intends to change his plea from not guilty in a DUI case linked to a rollover crash in Florida. Court documents filed on Tuesday reveal this development. The incident occurred in March when Woods’ Land Rover hit a truck and rolled onto its side, leading to his arrest. Woods initially pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge in Martin County circuit court, which lies north of Palm Beach County. Woods is slated to appear in court for a plea conference hearing on Wednesday morning, as indicated by a notice of the hearing issued on Tuesday. Details about the nature of the plea change have not been disclosed.

Efforts to obtain additional information from Woods’ attorney Doug Duncan and the State Attorney’s Office were unsuccessful. An image from police body camera footage released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office shows Woods performing a field sobriety test following the crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., on March 27, 2026. According to an incident report, Woods was driving at excessive speed on a road with a 30 mph speed limit in a beachside residential area on Jupiter Island. His vehicle caused $5,000 in damages to the truck involved in the crash.

After the accident, Woods was able to exit the vehicle without injuries. He informed a deputy that he was distracted by his phone and the car radio at the time of the incident. Although Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test, which showed no alcohol presence, he declined a urine test. Authorities reported that deputies discovered two pain pills in his pocket and noted signs of impairment. Court records indicate that Woods sought treatment at an inpatient facility outside the U.S. Subsequently, Judge Darren Steele authorized an agreement in July allowing prosecutors to review Woods’ medical records related to the crash and arrest. A similar agreement was approved in May, granting access to his prescription medication records from a pharmacy in Palm Beach, covering January through March.

Woods, aged 50, is a prominent figure in golf, known globally for his achievements and influence in the sport. He broke barriers by becoming the first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997. Despite his success, Woods’ career has faced setbacks due to multiple back and knee surgeries, car accidents, and issues related to pain medication. Throughout his life, Woods has been involved in four separate crashes. In 2021, he experienced a severe accident in Los Angeles that severely damaged his right leg, prompting doctors to consider amputation. In 2009, his SUV crashed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, Florida. Following the 2009 incident, Woods took a break from professional golf, and after the most recent crash, he has yet to return to tournament play.

Woods made his first public appearance since his treatment on June 23, when he introduced plans for the PGA Tour’s schedule revamp set for 2028. Despite his arrest, Woods continues to serve as chairman of the tour’s Future Competition Committee. He did not answer questions during this appearance.

Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle also contributed to this report.