A Florida prosecutor says Tiger Woods has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence and will enter a rehabilitation program later this year.
Palm Beach County Assistant State Attorney Adrienne Ellis said Woods entered the plea Wednesday. The 41-year-old golf superstar will enter a diversion program on October 25.
Woods' attorney Douglas Duncan had no comment. Woods was not in the courtroom on Wednesday.
Under the plea deal, prosecutors will drop the DUI charge from his arrest in May when he was found asleep in his Mercedes-Benz, apparently under the influence of a prescription painkiller and an anti-insomnia drug. No alcohol was found in his system.
Such plea deals are offered to many first-time DUI offenders in Palm Beach County.
Woods was arrested on May 29 about 15 miles from his home in Jupiter, Florida, when officers found him unconscious in his Mercedes-Benz, which was parked awkwardly on the side of the road and had damage to the driver's side.
It's not clear how he damaged the car. Officers checked the area but didn't find that he had hit anything.
Woods didn't know where he was when asked by officers and he stumbled and swayed through a field sobriety test, police dashboard camera video showed.
Woods told officers he was taking the painkiller Vicodin and Xanax, which treats anxiety and insomnia, to cope with his fourth back surgery in April. Tests showed he had no alcohol in his system.
Woods announced last month he had completed treatment to deal with his use of prescription medications.
His has won 79 PGA Tour victories and 14 major titles, but has not competed since February because of his back injury and is not expected to return this year. His last win was in August 2013.
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