Tiger Woods‘ DUI case reached a resolution on Wednesday morning, five months after his car crash. The 15-time major champion was scheduled to appear before a Martin County judge in Stuart, Florida, for a “change-of-plea” hearing on September 2 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The wait ended with a verdict that will keep him off the road for years.

Tiger Woods changes plea deal

Woods walked into an empty court according to a report from the Associated Press. Woods’s girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, was present with him. As previously reported, the case traces back to March 27 when Tiger Woods tried to pass a truck on a Jupiter Island road near his home. However, his Land Rover clipped the trailer and rolled onto the side, causing roughly $5,000 in damage.

Deputies found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket. A breath analyzer showed no alcohol, but Woods refused a urine test for drugs at the time. Four days later, on March 31, his attorney, Douglas Duncan, entered a not guilty plea and demanded a jury trial. However, court documents from earlier this week hinted Tiger Woods intended to change the ‘Not Guilty’ plea. And that’s exactly what happened on Wednesday.

Woods offered no defense and pleaded for a no-contest deal. At today’s hearing, Judge Darren Steele, in charge of Woods’ case, accepted the change of plea agreement.

As a result, prosecutors amended his original DUI-with-property-damage charge down to reckless driving, second offense. Additionally, Woods’s refusal to submit to a lawful test at the scene charge was resolved with a guilty plea and a separate careless driving citation. Tiger Woods agreed to pay $1,500, and his driver’s license was suspended for five years. Judge Steele did not soften his warning, however.

“You would immediately go back to jail”: Judge to Tiger Woods

Judge Steele was forthright in warning Tiger Woods of what a violation of the court order would mean. He told Woods the suspension “is for the safety of the public,” before adding that any violation of the ruling under any circumstances would send Woods behind the bars.

“There are no exceptions. If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would immediately go back to jail,” Steele said.

Tiger Woods also agreed to accept no hardship exemptions under the five-year term. The court has given him up to four months to pay his fine and costs, though he settled the full amount at the hearing itself. That being said, he has 30 days to appeal the ruling.

Speaking afterward, Mark Steinberg, his longtime manager at Excel Sports, told the Associated Press, “Tiger is not absolved of accountability, and he surrendered his license for the next five years. He is continuing his treatment and prioritizing all aspects of his health.”

The case of two pills found in his pocket was also brought up, and Woods’s attorney mounted a defense.

Woods has developed a pharmacological tolerance 

In May, the judge granted prosecutors access to Woods’ prescription records from a Palm Beach pharmacy covering January through March under a protective order limiting who could view them. In June, a separate ruling gave prosecutors access to his hospital records from the facility that treated him after the crash.

Tiger Woods released a statement soon after, saying he was “stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment,” citing his health. The judge also approved his request to travel out of the country for inpatient care on April 1.

In Wednesday’s hearing, it was reported that two toxicologists found no evidence of Woods being impaired while driving. In fact, they argued that the 15-time major champion has developed a pharmacological tolerance thanks to using painkillers over the years.

In the months after the crash, Woods largely remained out of the public eye. No details on the plea change were released beforehand. That said, the five-year suspension now closes the loudest chapter of the case that had shadowed Tiger Woods’ comeback plans since the spring. And yes, he can drive a golf cart still, which was later confirmed by an Associated Press report.