Tiger Woods barred from driving for five years — golf cart ban could follow

Tiger Woods’ hopes of a competitive return have hit a serious obstacle after he changed his plea in his DUI case on Wednesday. Appearing before a judge at Martin County Courthouse in Florida, the 15-time major winner avoided jail but had his driving licence suspended for five years as part of a last-minute plea deal.

The 50-year-old had originally pleaded not guilty and declined a lawful test, before reversing course to plead guilty to reckless and careless driving — charges that replaced the original DUI count. The case stemmed from a March crash in which Woods flipped his Land Rover on Jupiter Island; two hydrocodone pills were reportedly found in his pocket at the scene.

You can read more on the ruling via The Mirror.

The suspension complicates more than road use. In Florida, golf carts are legally classed as motor vehicles, meaning Woods may be barred from driving one too — a distinction that doesn’t apply in states like California, where lighter carts are treated as recreational vehicles. Presiding judge Daren Steele made clear the restriction has teeth, warning Woods that driving “for any reason at all” would send him back to jail.

That leaves Woods’ path back to PGA Tour Champions competition uncertain, since golf carts are integral to how the senior circuit operates — unless organisers adjust the rules or grant an exception. Given his history of injury-related mobility issues, walking full rounds is not considered a realistic alternative.

Woods has stayed out of the public eye since the crash, having travelled to Switzerland for treatment. At the time, he said he understood the seriousness of his situation and was stepping away to focus on his recovery.