Judge Orders Tiger Woods' Hospital Files Released to Prosecutors

Hospital Records Cleared for Prosecutors

A Florida judge has cleared the way for prosecutors to obtain hospital records from Tiger Woods’ March 27 crash, adding a new layer of scrutiny to the golfer’s pending DUI case. Martin County Judge Darren Steele signed an order on June 23 allowing the State Attorney’s Office to request records from Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital, where Woods was taken following the crash.

Woods, 50, was arrested that day in Jupiter Island after his SUV clipped a truck’s trailer and rolled onto its side on South Beach Road. Martin County deputies charged him with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a DUI test. He has pleaded not guilty. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 10, 2026.

A Zero on the Breathalyzer - and a Case That Didn’t End There

Woods blew a triple zero on the breathalyzer at the scene, according to court records. But deputies reported that he showed signs of impairment from what they described as “some type of medication or drug.” Two pain pills were found in his pocket at the time of the arrest.

Woods refused to submit to a urine test. The refusal itself carries criminal exposure as a separate charge under Florida law. Prosecutors have said they are pursuing both the DUI and the refusal count, and the medical records from Cleveland Clinic are expected to help establish what substances, if any, were present in his system at the time of the crash.

Judge Previously Ordered Prescription Records Released

This is the second round of medical records ordered in the case. In May, Judge Steele approved a separate agreement giving prosecutors access to all prescription medication records on file for Woods at a Palm Beach pharmacy, covering the period from January 1 through March 31, 2026.

For both sets of records - the pharmacy files and the hospital documents - prosecutors and Woods’ defense attorney, Doug Duncan, agreed to a protective order restricting access to the state, its law enforcement officers and experts, and the defense team. The records will not be publicly released.

Treatment Completed, Public Return Made

Following the March arrest, a judge approved Woods’ request to travel outside the United States to begin inpatient treatment at a rehabilitation facility. Court records indicate he traveled to Zurich, Switzerland, and has since returned to the United States.

Woods made his first public appearance since the arrest last week, attending the Travelers Championship PGA Tour event in Connecticut, where he introduced PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp during an announcement about the organization’s competitive structure.

A History That Adds Weight to the Case

The March crash is not the first time Woods has faced legal trouble on the road. In 2017, he was arrested in Jupiter, Florida, on a DUI charge after being found asleep at the wheel. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a diversion program. In February 2021, a separate single-car rollover accident in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, nearly cost him his right leg and ended any realistic prospect of a competitive return.

With a court date now set for July 10 and hospital records in prosecutors’ hands, the DUI case against one of golf’s most recognizable figures is entering a more aggressive phase. The outcome will determine whether Woods faces a misdemeanor conviction or resolves the case through a plea agreement.

References: Tiger Woods Hospital Records Handed to Prosecutors in DUI Case, Judge Rules | Tiger Woods’ Hospital Records Will Be Handed Over to Prosecutors in Florida DUI Case, Judge Rules