Tiger Woods's legal troubles took another turn this week as a Florida judge ruled that prosecutors can access the golf legend's prescription drug records following his March DUI arrest. The decision, handed down by Judge Darren Steele in Martin County circuit court, came after both sides reached an agreement during a brief hearing.
The 50-year-old superstar pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence after a March 27 accident on a residential road. Woods's vehicle clipped a truck while attempting to overtake, causing his SUV to flip onto its side before sliding to a stop. Remarkably, the 15-time major champion managed to climb out through the passenger side window.
While authorities confirmed Woods hadn't been drinking alcohol, they determined he appeared impaired at the scene. Officers found two pills containing hydrocodone, an opioid painkiller, in his pocket. Woods, who has undergone multiple back operations and severe leg surgeries over the years, refused to take a urine analysis test. He now faces charges of misdemeanor DUI, refusal to submit to a lawful test, and distracted driving.
The legal battle over his medical records had been brewing since April, when prosecutors first requested access to "any and all prescription medication" on file for Woods—including dosage amounts, instructions, and warnings about operating vehicles while taking the medication. Woods's attorney, Douglas Duncan, initially opposed the subpoena, arguing the golf icon had a right to privacy unless the state could prove the records were relevant to the criminal investigation.
During Tuesday's hearing—which Woods did not attend—both parties agreed to release the records under a protective order. This means the documents will be available only to prosecutors, law enforcement, expert witnesses, and Woods's defense team, shielding them from public view under Florida's open records law.
Woods told officers at the scene that he had been looking at his phone and didn't realize the truck and trailer had slowed in front of him—a detail that adds context to the distracted driving charge. For a golfer whose career has been defined by both incredible triumphs and public setbacks, this latest chapter serves as a reminder that even sports icons face serious consequences off the course.