Golf legend Tiger Woods has been handed a five-year driver license suspension in Florida after agreeing to a plea deal over a high-speed vehicle crash on Jupiter Island, securing vocal support from US President Donald Trump.
The agreement was finalized before Woods appeared at the Martin County Courthouse, where the former world number one entered a plea of no contest to charges of willful and wanton reckless driving, marking a second offense, as well as a reckless driving violation.
The resolution comes five months after the March incident in which Woods was driving a Land Rover at high speed on Jupiter Island. His vehicle struck a truck and overturned, though Woods managed to climb out of the wreckage without suffering any injuries.
According to law enforcement reports, Woods initially told responding officers that he was checking his mobile phone and changing the radio station when the collision occurred. He also told police officers at the scene that he was speaking on the telephone with Donald Trump at the exact moment of the crash.
Plea agreement and toxicology results
Woods initially pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence and refusing to submit to testing. Although he agreed to a breathalyzer test at the scene that showed zero alcohol in his system, authorities reported that he refused to provide a urine sample for broader toxicology screening.
An official report from the sheriff's office noted that officers discovered two painkiller pills in his pocket and observed that he exhibited signs of impairment. Following his arrest, Woods stepped away from professional competition and began treatment in April.
Presidential backing and driver advice
Speaking to Fox News journalist Peter Doocy, President Trump defended Woods, describing him as a unique person both as an athlete and a human being. Trump stated that Woods was not under the influence of alcohol, attributing his condition entirely to prescription medication taken for severe, chronic back pain.
Trump claimed that Woods suffered from ongoing agony due to a back surgery performed by a bad doctor that did not turn out well. The president added that he had long advised Woods to hire a driver, asking him why he did not put someone else behind the wheel, and noted that Woods would rely on a designated driver from now on.
Trump praised the court settlement as a fair resolution to the legal proceedings and expressed satisfaction that the case was officially closed.
Career milestones and return to public view
Woods made his first public appearance since entering rehab in June, attending a presentation detailing PGA Tour plans to reform the schedule for the 2028 season.
The 50-year-old golfer is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, having captured 15 major championships throughout his career while enduring multiple surgeries and severe injuries to his back and legs.
