Tiger Woods intends to alter his 'not guilty' plea in the driving under the influence case connected to his March rollover accident in Florida, according to The Daily Mail. Woods, 50, is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for a change-of-plea hearing, as indicated by court records.
Woods had initially entered a plea of not guilty to two misdemeanor charges on March 31. It remains unclear if a plea agreement has been reached in the case. Representatives for Woods and Martin County prosecutors have been contacted for comment.
The 15-time major champion faces charges of property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Police discovered two opioid tablets in his possession following the crash.
Woods has since undergone a rehabilitation program in Switzerland. He was last publicly seen in the United States last month after returning from Switzerland.
According to law enforcement, Woods was traveling at a high speed on a road in Jupiter Island, Florida, when his Land Rover collided with a tractor-trailer and overturned. The collision caused approximately $5,000 in damage to the other vehicle.
Woods was able to exit the vehicle without sustaining injuries. He later told officers that he was looking at his phone and adjusting the radio at the time of the collision. A Breathalyzer test did not detect alcohol in Woods' system, but he declined a urine test, authorities reported.
The Sheriff's report noted that deputies found opioids in Woods' pocket and observed signs of impairment.
His most recent court appearance was on August 4, following a July ruling that permitted prosecutors to access Woods' hospital records related to the crash. Judge Darren Steele had previously approved an agreement allowing prosecutors access to Woods' prescription medication records from his local pharmacy between January 1 and the date of the crash. A protective order limits the release of these medical and prescription records.
Before the crash, Woods was reportedly close to returning to professional golf and was widely expected to participate in The Masters. He has not competed since the 2024 Open Championship and has undergone surgery for a torn Achilles tendon and a seventh back procedure.
Woods' legal issues have occurred in the context of his girlfriend Vanessa Trump's cancer diagnosis, which she revealed in May.
The March crash marks the fourth significant driving-related incident in Woods' adult life. In 2021, he was involved in a rollover accident in California where he was not accused of driving under the influence but was reportedly driving at high speeds. He was not charged in that incident. In 2017, Woods was found unconscious in his Mercedes-Benz after being pulled over by Jupiter police. Tests found the presence of marijuana's active ingredient, painkillers, a sleep aid, and an anti-anxiety drug. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and received probation, a fine, and was ordered to complete community service. During that probation, he was banned from consuming alcohol.
In July 2017, Woods completed a private program to address his dependency on painkillers. He tweeted at the time, "I will continue to tackle this going forward with my doctors, family and friends. I am so very thankful for all of the support I've received."
Woods' most publicized car crash occurred in November 2009 when his vehicle struck a fire hydrant, tree, and hedges near his home. He received a ticket for careless driving for that incident.