Tiger Woods is scheduled to appear in a Florida court on Wednesday, September 4 for a plea change hearing in his driving under the influence (DUI) case, according to court documents filed Tuesday. The hearing is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. ET before Judge Darren Steele in the Martin County Circuit Court. Court filings did not specify what plea Woods will enter, and neither his attorney nor prosecutors have publicly commented on the matter.
Woods initially pleaded not guilty to DUI charges stemming from a March 27 rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida. The crash occurred when Woods' Land Rover clipped a truck and flipped onto its side, causing approximately $5,000 in damage to the other vehicle. No injuries were reported. According to an arrest affidavit, Woods told deputies he was looking down at his phone and changing the radio station at the time of the collision.
During the incident, deputies reported observing signs of impairment, including lethargy, profuse sweating, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and extremely dilated pupils. Two hydrocodone pills were found in Woods' pocket. A Breathalyzer test returned a blood alcohol content of zero, but Woods refused a urine test. The arrest report noted that Woods had taken "a few" prescription medications.
In the aftermath of the crash, Woods traveled to an inpatient treatment facility outside the United States to seek treatment for personal recovery. Court records indicate that Judge Steele granted Woods' request to travel abroad for treatment in a controlled environment. In July, the judge approved an agreement allowing prosecutors to review Woods' hospital records related to the crash and arrest. A similar agreement in May granted prosecutors access to Woods' prescription medication records from a Palm Beach pharmacy for the period of January through March.
The case marks Woods' fourth crash since 2009. His legal team, led by attorney Douglas Duncan, has not publicly disclosed whether a plea agreement has been reached with prosecutors. The hearing is expected to address the change of plea, though no further details have been provided in court filings or by involved parties.