A Florida judge ordered that prescription drug records for professional golfer Tiger Woods be turned over to prosecutors in a DUI case [1].
This ruling allows the state to examine whether specific medications contributed to the impairment of the athlete during the incident. The decision comes after a legal battle over the privacy of medical information versus the requirements of a criminal investigation.
Woods was arrested in March 2026 [1]. He faces charges of misdemeanor DUI, distracted driving, and refusal to submit to a lawful test [2]. The golfer has pleaded not guilty to these charges and has since entered a treatment facility [2].
Prosecutors said that the prescription history is essential to assess the golfer's state of mind and physical impairment at the time of the arrest [3]. They seek to determine if the use of legal prescriptions played a role in the events leading to the charges [3].
Legal representatives for Woods contested the request, saying that the records constitute private medical information that should remain confidential [3]. Despite these objections, the judge ruled on May 12, 2026, that the records must be provided to the prosecution [4].
While some reports suggest a subpoena for the records will be issued later this month, other court records indicate the judge has already ordered the release [4, 5]. The case remains in the pretrial phase as the prosecution prepares its evidence for the misdemeanor charges [2].
“A Florida judge ordered that prescription drug records for professional golfer Tiger Woods be turned over to prosecutors”
The court's decision prioritizes the state's ability to prove impairment over the defendant's right to medical privacy. By gaining access to prescription records, prosecutors can establish a chemical baseline for Woods' condition during the arrest, potentially complicating the defense's strategy if the records show the use of substances that impair motor skills or judgment.
