Golf icon Tiger Woods is scheduled to make his first court appearance in early September, more than five months after his arrest for driving under the influence and a single-vehicle rollover crash. Woods, 50, was detained on March 27 in Jupiter Island, Florida, after his SUV overturned while he was attempting to overtake a truck at high speed. Police reported finding two opioid painkillers in his possession at the time of the arrest.
Woods was charged with DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Following the incident, he sought professional help at a rehabilitation facility in Zurich, Switzerland. He briefly returned to Florida after his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, revealed her breast cancer diagnosis.
The court date had reportedly been postponed multiple times as prosecutors continued their investigation. Woods has waived his arraignment and requested a jury trial. His legal team, represented by attorney Douglas Duncan, has been engaged in legal proceedings regarding access to his medical records connected to the crash. In August, Martin County circuit court judge Darren Steele approved an agreement allowing prosecutors to obtain hospital records from Woods' treatment following the crash. Previously, in May, Steele had authorized access to Woods' prescription medication records from a Palm Beach pharmacy covering the period from January 1 to his March arrest.
A protective order has been agreed upon by prosecutors and Woods' defense team, which restricts the release of hospital and prescription records to essential parties, including the State Attorney's Office, law enforcement, state experts, and the defense.
Woods was preparing for a potential return to professional golf and was widely expected to compete at The Masters shortly before the crash. He has not competed since the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland and has since undergone surgery for a torn Achilles tendon and a seventh back procedure. This court appearance marks the latest in a series of legal issues related to driving offenses for Woods. In 2017, he was arrested for another DUI in Florida. In 2021, he was involved in a severe car crash in California that resulted in a shattered right leg and required multiple surgeries. He also had an incident in November 2009 where he crashed into a fire hydrant near his Florida home.