By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to reckless driving on Wednesday morning as part of an agreement with prosecutors that reduced a DUI charge.
Woods, a 15-time major champion and the greatest golfer of his generation, was arrested after his Land Rover rolled over on a two-lane road near his Jupiter Island home.
No one was injured in the crash, though Woods had to crawl out through the passenger door to free himself.
Woods entered a no-contest motion during a change-of-plea conference at the Marin County courthouse in Stuart, Fla. In exchange, he received a reduced charge of reckless driving and a charge of refusing to submit to a lawful test. He was also ordered to pay fines.
Thomas Bakkedahl, a state attorney, defended his decision to accept the plea, saying he “did what I think is right.”
Judge Darren Steele warned Woods that his driver’s license suspension didn’t include exceptions. “If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would immediately go back to jail,” the judge told Woods.
Steele said two five-year driver’s license suspensions will run at the same time, one on a reckless driving charge and one on a careless driving citation.
Woods did not answer questions from reporters as he and girlfriend Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., walked in and out of the building.