Tiger Woods pleads guilty to reckless driving but manages to avoid jail

The golf superstar – who had five different drugs in his system after his arrest – must now undergo regular drug tests.

Tiger Woods has pleaded guilty to reckless driving and settled a charge of driving under the influence, as he avoided jail.

The 41-year-old golfer was arrested earlier this year after being found by police asleep behind the wheel of his damaged Mercedes, with his engine still running.

In August, his lawyer indicated he would plead not guilty to driving under the influence (DUI), but would agree to plead guilty to the lesser charge of reckless driving and enter a rehabilitation programme.

Woods, who arrived at the Palm Beach County Court in Florida wearing sunglasses and a sport coat, will spend a year on probation and must pay a $250 fine (£190) plus court costs.

He has already attended a DUI programme, completed 20 hours of community service and attended a workshop where victims talk about the impact impaired drivers had on their lives.

Image:
Woods smiles in the court room following the ruling

Woods will also need to undergo regular drug tests.

Judge Sandra Bosso-Pardo warned him that violation of his probation could result in jail time.

At the time of his arrest in May, five different drugs were found in his system, including two powerful painkillers, an anti-anxiety drug, a sleeping pill and a marijuana.

A blood test found no alcohol in his body.

Video footage released by police at the time of his arrest showed Woods slurring his alphabet during a roadside test and struggling with breath tests while in detention.

The 14-time major champion later released a statement saying his condition had been caused by self-medicating to relieve pain from back surgery and insomnia.

:: Tiger Woods: Downfall of a golfing great

In 2009 Woods briefly went into hospital after crashing his SUV into a tree and a fire hydrant outside his then-Windermere, Florida, home.

Following the accident, and the breakdown of his marriage, he sought treatment for an addiction.

Ranked as the 17th best-paid athlete in the world, Woods has not competed since February due to ongoing back problems.

Source: deathrattlesports