Tiger Woods likely to enter first-time DUI offender program in Florida

Golfer Tiger Woods is expected to enter a program for first-time DUI offenders to resolve charges filed against him after police found him asleep at the wheel of his parked car alongside a Florida road, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.

The former world No.1 golfer was not in court as his lawyer entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of driving under the influence stemming from Woods’ arrest in May. But Woods, 41, is expected to appear at the Palm Beach Gardens courthouse for an Oct. 25 hearing to plead guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving, according Adrienne Ellis, a chief assistant state attorney for Palm Beach County.

The reckless driving plea would allow Woods to take part in a 12-month probation program that would involve community service, DUI school, a substance abuse evaluation, possible treatment and other conditions. Woods would avoid a DUI conviction if he completes the program. His attorney, Douglas Duncan, declined to discuss the case with reporters at the courthouse on Wednesday.

Police found Woods stopped on the side of a Palm Beach-area road in his Mercedes-Benz at about 3 a.m. on May 29. He had “extremely slow and slurred speech” after being awakened by a Jupiter …read more