Tiger Woods appears in court with his girlfriend Vanessa Trump. [AP]
Tiger Woods appears in court with his girlfriend Vanessa Trump. [AP]

Tiger Woods has had his driver's license suspended for five years after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors over a vehicle rollover accident.

Judge Darren Steel of Martin County Circuit Court in Florida handed down the ruling Thursday (Korean Standard Time), finding Woods guilty of reckless and careless driving. Under the agreement, Woods avoided the more serious charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but was fined approximately $1,500 and received the five-year license suspension.

Steel issued a stern warning, saying Woods would be sent to jail immediately if caught driving again for any reason. Woods has 30 days to appeal the ruling.

Woods had initially pleaded not guilty but chose to enter a plea deal with prosecutors to reduce the charges. Rather than continue the legal fight, he entered a no-contest plea to the reckless and careless driving charges — a disposition that carries the same legal weight as a guilty verdict.

The incident occurred in March on a residential road in Jupiter Island, Florida, when the SUV Woods was driving collided with a truck towing a trailer while attempting to pass it, then rolled onto its side. Neither Woods nor the truck driver sustained physical injuries, but the other vehicle suffered approximately $5,000 in property damage.

A roadside breathalyzer test at the scene detected no alcohol. However, two hydrocodone pills — an opioid painkiller — were found in Woods' pocket, and he refused to submit to a urine test. Police arrested him on charges of drugged driving and refusal to submit to testing before releasing him on bail.

Thursday's court appearance was Woods' first in-person hearing since the accident in March. His girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, accompanied him and sat behind the defendant's table.

Vanessa is the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of US President Donald Trump. She and Woods began dating in late 2024 and made their relationship public in early 2025. Throughout the accident and trial proceedings, she has remained at Woods' side as a source of emotional support.


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