Golf legend Tiger Woods appeared in court on Sept. 2, changing his plea in relation to a DUI arrest earlier this year.
On March 27, Woods rolled his car while driving in Jupiter Island, Florida. Officers reported Woods' eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and said his "normal faculties were impaired." Woods was not injured in the crash, but he was charged with a DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to DUI test. Woods pleaded no contest Sept. 2 and was adjudicated guilty by the county judge of a lesser charge. He was fined $1,500, and his license was suspended for five years.
Body camera footage from the arrest later revealed that Woods told officers, "I was just talking to the president," after he wandered away from the crash site with his
phone to his ear.
President Donald Trump and Woods share more than their affinity for golf. Here is how Woods is personally related to Trump:
Tiger Woods is dating Trump's ex-daughter-in-law
On March 13, 2025, news reports suggested Woods was dating Vanessa Trump, once the president's daughter-in-law. In a March 23, 2025, Instagram post, Woods confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump via social media.
“Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts," Woods said in an Instagram post with pictures of Vanessa Trump.
President Trump reacted positively to the news at the time, saying, "let them both be happy." Trump told reporters the day of Woods' arrest, "I feel so badly, he's got some difficulty...Very close friend of mine, he's an amazing person, amazing man."
Vanessa Trump attended court with Woods on Sept. 2.
Who is Vanessa Trump?
Vanessa Trump is the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
On Nov. 12, 2005, Donald Trump Jr. married former model Vanessa Kay Trump, formerly Vanessa Kay Pergolizzi. Donald Trump introduced Donald Trump Jr. to Vanessa at a fashion show in 2003. The couple married at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach in front of about 370 guests, reports show, with the service officiated by Donald Trump's sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry. Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump were 27 years old when they wed, weeks before they both turned 28 in December 2005.
Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr. had five children together − Kai Trump, Donald Trump III, Tristan Trump, Spencer Trump and Chloe Trump − before they eventually divorced, after 12 years of marriage, in 2018.
Vanessa Trump announced on May 20 she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. After his arrest, Woods was granted permission to leave the country to receive "comprehensive inpatient treatment" and departed for Zurich, Switzerland. Days before Vanessa Trump's announcement, Woods reportedly returned to Palm Beach from Zurich, his first public sighting since his arrest.
Kai Trump has called Tiger Woods her favorite golfer
Kai Trump, 19, is President Donald Trump's eldest granddaughter, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump. She is also an avid golfer like Woods and her grandfather.
In February 2025, Kai Trump became the highest-valued player in girls’ high school golf, after announcing her first lucrative endorsement deal.
Kai Trump attended the same Palm Beach County school as Woods' son, Charlie Woods. She recently started at the University of Miami, playing on their women's golf team. Charlie Woods signed on to Florida State University in fall 2027.
OnLogan Paul's podcast earlier this year, Kai Trump said Woods is her favorite golfer.
Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Will Greenlee, Laurie K. Blandford, Crystal Vander Weit, and Kaila Jones, USA TODAY Network
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky and TikTok.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods appeared in court for DUI plea. How does he know Trump?
