Tiger Woods to change his plea in DUI case on Wednesday

The case so far

The 50-year-old golfer is due in court in Martin County, Florida on Wednesday morning to change his plea in his DUI case, according to court records cited by the BBC. The hearing comes five months after a March crash in which his vehicle rolled over. That same month, Woods pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges — driving under the influence and refusal to submit to testing. Sources have not specified what the new plea will be.

What happened in the crash

No one was injured in the crash, although Woods had to crawl out of the vehicle through the passenger door. In April, police released body camera footage showing the aftermath of the incident, in which Woods' car had clipped a truck and rolled over. In the video, a calm Woods, kneeling on one knee, tells officers: "I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom." He passed a breathalyser test but declined a urinalysis screening for other substances. Woods told officers he had not consumed alcohol that day, but when asked about prescription medication he replied, "I take a few," adding he had taken them earlier that morning and listing the medications — though that part of the footage was redacted. Officers said they suspected his "normal faculties" were impaired by an "unknown substance." Authorities later reported finding two white pills in his pocket, identified as hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed for pain.

Woods' response

Following the incident, Woods wrote on social media that he understood the seriousness of the situation and was stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on his health, saying this was necessary for his wellbeing and lasting recovery. This marks the second time Woods has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.