09/02/26 03:25:00
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09/02 03:17 CDT Tiger Woods plans to change not guilty plea in DUI case in
Florida, court documents show
Tiger Woods plans to change not guilty plea in DUI case in Florida, court
documents show
STUART, Fla. (AP) --- Tiger Woods plans to change his not guilty plea in a DUI
case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida, according to court documents
filed Tuesday.
In March, Woods' Land Rover clipped a truck, rolled onto its side and the
legendary golfer was arrested, officials said. Woods pleaded not guilty to
driving under the influence in the case in Martin County circuit court, just
north of Palm Beach County.
He is expected in court Wednesday morning for a plea conference hearing,
according to a notice of the hearing posted Tuesday. No additional details
about the nature of the plea change were released.
Woods' attorney, Doug Duncan, and the State Attorney's Office did not
immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press requesting additional
information.
Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside residential road on Jupiter
Island with a 30 mph (nearly 50 kph) speed limit when his Land Rover caused
$5,000 in damage to the truck, according to an incident report. He managed to
crawl out of the vehicle without any injuries and told a deputy that he was
looking down at his phone and changing the radio station when he hit the truck.
Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but
refused a urine test, authorities said. A sheriff's office report said deputies
found two pain pills in his pocket, and he showed signs of impairment.
Woods has traveled outside of the United States to seek treatment at an
inpatient treatment facility, according to court records.
In July, Judge Darren Steele approved an agreement in which prosecutors were
allowed to review medical records related to Woods' crash and arrest. The judge
signed off on a similar agreement in May that grants prosecutors access to all
prescription medication records for Woods at a Palm Beach pharmacy from the
start of the year through the end of March.
Woods, 50, is among the most influential figures in golf and is as recognizable
as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the
Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be
broken.
But his career has been derailed by multiple back and knee surgeries, car
accidents and pain pill dependence.
Woods has been involved in four crashes over the years. In 2021, he survived a
crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors
considered amputation. In 2009, his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree
outside his home near Orlando, Florida.
He took a leave from the golf tour after the 2009 accident and again after the
latest crash and has yet to return to tournament play.
Woods made his first public appearance since returning from treatment on June
23 when he introduced the PGA Tour's plans to revamp its schedule for 2028.
Woods remained as chairman of the tour's Future Competition Committee after his
arrest. He did not take questions in that appearance.
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Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.
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