Tiger Woods is scheduled to appear at a change of plea hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 2, according to Martin County (Florida) court records, after the golf legend was charged with DUI following a rollover car accident more than six months ago.
An arrest affidavit at the time of incident alleged Woods failed field sobriety tests conducted by officers at the scene, and law enforcement found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' pocket after the crash. Woods subsequently announced he would "seek treatment and focus on my health."
Treasure Coast News, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported it is mandatory defendants appear in person for a change of plea hearing. Woods has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Woods was also issued a traffic citation related to
careless driving as part of the accident, and court records show that case also is now scheduled for a change of plea hearing on Wednesday. Though neither Woods nor his attorneys have commented yet on the filing, change of plea hearings are often held to discuss plea agreements reached between a defendant and prosecutors.
Woods was reported to have been driving fast on a residential street on Jupiter Island, Florida, near his home on March 27 when he clipped the back of a pressure-washing trailer behind a truck. His SUV flipped and skidded down the street, and he climbed out of the skyward-facing passenger window.
Woods blew a 0.00 on two alcohol breath tests but declined to submit to a urinalysis. Court documents show the 15-time major winner was initially slated to appear in court on Sept. 8 before Wednesday's hearing was put on the docket.
Florida prosecutors said in a state court filing on April 7 they wanted to issue a subpoena seeking copies of "any and all prescription medication on file" for Woods as part of its case. Woods and his attorneys have contested the release of those records.
Woods has a long history of back and leg injuries, and hydrocodone is a prescription opiod drug used to treat severe, chronic pain. When asked by officers if he had taken prescription drugs before the crash, he replied "I take a few," the affidavit said.
Woods has made several brief public appearances in conjunction with the PGA Tour since reportedly returning from a rehabilitation facility in Switzerland in May, but he has not taken any questions or talked in detail about what happened on March 27. His court hearing on Wednesday is slated to begin at 8:30 a.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods scheduled to appear in Florida court Wednesday for DUI case
