Tiger Woods’ expected court hearing date after Florida crash and DUI arrest

NBC reporter Cara Banks has provided new details on Tiger Woods’ upcoming court proceedings after his arrest in Florida. 

The 50-year-old was held in custody on Friday for approximately eight hours in Martin County after his Range Rover collided with a trailer he was attempting to pass, causing the vehicle to roll over. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. 

Authorities charged Woods with misdemeanour DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful urine test.

A breathalyser test ruled out alcohol, prompting investigators to suspect impairment from prescription medication or other substances.

Woods was released on bail. 

Banks, reporting during the third round of the the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park, confirmed she has spoken to Martin County Sheriff's Office and official paperwork and a full incident report following Woods' DUI arrest are expected to be filed early next week. 

The court date, according to Banks, is likely to be scheduled on or before Friday 17 April, which is a week after the second round of The Masters at Augusta National. Woods will also not be required to attend the hearing. 

“I spoke to the Sheriff's office this morning and they did confirm the paperwork would be coming in the coming days, probably early next week, and that would include the incident report,” NBC's Banks confirmed during Sky Sports Golf's live coverage of the third round of the Houston Open. 

“I also spoke to the jail house where Woods spent eight hours yesterday. They indicated the court date will likely be set on Monday. 

“Typically the court date is three weeks from the arrest, which would take us to April 17th, which would be Friday after The Masters. 

“It's worth pointing out that Tiger Woods would not be required to attend.”

Images from the crash showed Woods in his Sun Day Red golf attire, standing near his damaged Range Rover while on the phone. 

His subsequent mugshot (below) showed bloodshot eyes. 

Legal experts have outlined what is likely to happen next in Woods’ case. 

Tarlika Nunez-Navarro, the dean and professor of law at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, told WBAL News Radio that an arraignment in Martin County Circuit Court is usually scheduled within two to three weeks, as outlined by Banks.

Though as we must clarify, Woods’ exact court date has not been publicly released. 

A bond has not been listed, but traditionally it would be set at $1,000. 

Nunez-Navarro explained Woods’ lawyers are expected to file a motion to suppress based on an argument of unlawful detention and will likely challenge the field sobriety test results given his medical history. 

A plea deal remains possible, similar to Woods’ 2017 case when a DUI charge was reduced to reckless driving. 

If convicted of DUI, the potential penalties include up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, six months probation, DUI school, and community service. 

Nunez-Navarro, who previously served as a circuit judge in Osceola and Broward counties, also noted that “the charges may not hold up.”

She told WBAL News Radio: “Florida DUI law requires proof of impairment — not just signs of impairment. 

“Without a urine test, there is no chemical evidence of what substance was in his system or at what level. 

“The prosecution will have to rely entirely on the officer’s observations — lethargic appearance, field sobriety test performance — and Woods’ lawyers will counter every single one of those observations with his documented medical history.”

One lawyer, however, has explained Woods might not get leniency this time.

Woods' rollover crash occurred just three miles from his home in Jupiter Island, Florida. 

Banks understands Woods had been playing regularly at Medalist Golf Club this week as he looked to ramp up his preparations ahead of The Masters from 9-12 April. 

It remains to be seen whether Woods was indeed heading to the golf course at the time of his rollover crash and resulting DUI arrest. 

But given Woods was wearing his Sun Day Red apparel, there is a good chance that was the case, or some form of golf was on the cards. 

The latest incident adds to a history of vehicle-related incidents for Woods. 

In 2017, he was arrested for DUI in Jupiter, Florida, and ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving after prescription drugs were found in his system.

In 2021, he suffered serious leg injuries in a high-speed rollover crash in Los Angeles, though no charges were filed. 

An earlier crash in 2009, when Woods struck a fire hydrant, hedges, and a tree outside his home, led to intense media scrutiny, the breakdown of his marriage to Elin Nordegren, and the loss of several sponsorship deals.

Those incidents, combined with his ongoing injuries — including seven career back surgeries, ACL reconstruction and left Achilles tendon surgery — have limited Woods’ golf schedule in recent years. 

Woods has not competed on Tour since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024. 

Though he was able to return to some form of competition at the TGL final on Tuesday night at the SoFi Center in Florida. His Jupiter Links GC were heavily defeated by Los Angeles GC. 

Woods had confirmed he would be on site for Rory McIlroy's Champions Dinner on Tuesday 7 April, but whether those plans have changed following his arrest remains to be seen.