Tiger Woods Pleads Guilty To Reckless Driving

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL — Legendary golfer Tiger Woods pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving on Friday and was ordered to complete a first-time DUI offender program rather than stand trial for the more serious driving under the influence offense he was charged with over Memorial Day weekend. Woods appeared in court for the seven-minute proceeding. The golfer recently acknowledged that he is getting "professional help" to manage his medications.

At the end of the one-year program, Woods will have his charge reduced to a withheld adjudication and he may also apply to have his record expunged.

Woods tweeted a photo of himself attending Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night in Los Angeles between the Houston Astros and the Dodgers.

In an interview following the guilty plea, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg told Patch that the golfer did not receive any special treatment.

“This is open to everyone. Tiger woods was treated just like everyone else,” said Aronberg, adding that Woods had already completed several conditions of the program. “There’s been about 2,500 people who have entered the program since it started in 2013 and we have a very high success rate.”

He said that 94 percent of first-time offenders successfully complete the program. It is the only program of its kind endorsed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Out of 425 people who entered last year, only one committed DUI again, Aronberg said.

“The only question we had was whether he qualified for the program, not what his name and status was,” Aronberg added of Woods.

Woods confirmed recently that he planned to seek professional help to manage his medications "and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder."

The golfer was found asleep behind the wheel of his black Mercedes and had to be woken up with the vehicle still running and his brake lights on. He was charged with DUI after he was unable to tie his shoes or definitively say where he was going at the time of his arrest.

Woods arrived in a black SUV on Friday afternoon wearing sunglasses as he was escorted into the Palm Beach Gardens courthouse by sheriff's deputies. He entered the plea before Judge Sandra Bossopardo.

Woods was ordered to pay $543.50 in fines and costs and to make a $250 donation to Palm Beach County Victim Services, complete DUI school and perform 50 hours of community service at a minimum of 10 hours per month along with other conditions. He had the option of performing the community service through his Tiger Woods Foundation.

Aronberg, the top prosecutor in Palm Beach County, said Woods is prohibited from drinking or taking drugs over the next year unless they are prescribed to him. Woods reportedly claimed to be suffering from a reaction to the pain medication he was taking following his recent back surgery and had not been drinking, a contention that was confirmed by two police breathalyzer results and other conditions.

"What’s interesting about the program, it’s tougher than if you just plead guilty," according to Aronberg. "If you plead guilty to DUI in this county, the judge will rarely if ever give jail time for a first-time DUI offense. And then there’s no requirement for a year of random drug and alcohol testing."

Woods was arrested around 3 a.m. along Military Trail and charged with DUI, according to Kristin Reightler of the Jupiter Police Department. He was taken to the Palm Beach County Jail and released on his own recognizance.

The Jupiter police report stated that Woods was found near the bike lane of Military Trail and Indian Creek Parkway. His car showed signs of "fresh damage," including two flat tires on the driver's side, damage to the tire rims, minor damage to the driver's side bumper and rear bumper. Police noted that the rear taillight on the passenger side also appeared to be out.

"I asked Woods to exit his vehicle to which he complied. While exiting his vehicle he utilized the door to maintain his balance while exiting his vehicle," according to the arresting officer's statement. "It should be noted that Woods was swaying and was using his arms to balance. I asked Woods if he wished to tie his shoes and he originally stated, no that he could not get down that far."

Police said that Woods later placed his right foot on the front grill of the patrol vehicle in an attempt to retie his shoe. "Woods then placed his right foot down and lifted his left foot on the grill of the patrol vehicle. At this point Woods was swaying and nearly lost his balance so I asked Woods if he wished to take off his shoes. Woods removed his shoes and left them under the front end of my patrol vehicle."

Woods was able to recite the alphabet, according to police, but not without some difficulty.

"After finishing the instructions, Woods was asked if he understood the instructions to which he stated he did," according to police documents. "Woods was asked what the instructions were, to which he stated 'not to sing the national anthem backwards' to which I repeated it to ensure that I heard Woods correctly. Woods was then again read the instructions to which he stated he understood and said to repeat A-Z making sure he gets each one correct. Woods began to walk off and seemed as if he was lost. Woods asked what we were doing to which I again repeated the instructions. Woods correctly recited the alphabet."

Woods was reportedly pulled over near his upscale restaurant, The Woods Jupiter at Harbourside Place.

The golfer is a resident of Hobe Sound, an unincorporated swath of Martin County that has also been home to celebrities like Celine Dion and Burt Reynolds.

Watch as the legendary golfer arrives for his day in court:

Watch video of Woods' failed sobriety test below:

Golfer Tiger Woods enters a courtroom at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in Palm Beach Gardens. (Lannis Waters/Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool).