A four-minute hearing in Martin County circuit court may have just defined the next chapter of Tiger Woods‘ career. A Florida judge denied his ‘privacy plea,’ granting prosecutors access to his prescription records and dramatically escalating his ongoing DUI case following his Land Rover accident in Jupiter Island. The ruling serves as an immediate warning bell for Woods’ legal team and could have major personal and professional implications.

The judge’s decision puts a new focus on the events of March 27, when Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence when he tried to go around a pickup truck pulling a trailer. His vehicle hit the trailer, lost control, and flipped over. The golfer crawled out of the vehicle, and neither he nor the truck driver was injured. Four days later, Woods pleaded not guilty, but the police saw “several signs of impairment” when they arrived at the scene.

The affidavit paints a concerning picture: police at the scene described that Woods was “sweating profusely,” with “lethargic and slow” movements. Despite being “extremely alert,” his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy,” and he showed a “lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes.”

When asked if he had consumed any alcohol, Woods said, “None.” Regarding prescription drugs, he admitted, “I take a few.” He also claimed that he hadn’t taken any illegal substances. Although his breathalyzer test came up 0.000, doubts started growing when he refused to provide a urine sample during questioning.

The police reports also claimed that Woods had two hydrocodone pills (a painkiller, but a strong one), and he was limping during the sobriety test after the crash. Together, these signs built a case for impairment despite the clean breath test, and prosecutors then subpoenaed Woods’ prescriptions to check the medications he was taking, the dosages, and whether the prescriptions included warnings about driving while using the drugs.

Woods’ lawyer, though, tried to block the request. Doug Duncan cited his client’s right to privacy with respect to his medical records, but the judge allowed prosecutors to review Woods’ pharmacy records. The records will remain sealed under a protective order, accessible only to the prosecution, police officers, and Woods’ legal team.

Tiger Woods’ lawyers can still pursue several legal options to slow down or limit the case. They can appeal the decision to a higher court, argue that some of the medical records are not important to the DUI case, try to stop certain private details from being shown during the trial, or challenge how prosecutors use the records. For now, though, the prosecution’s access to these records opens the door to several serious outcomes for Woods, depending on what they reveal.

In DUI cases involving medication, judges often allow prosecutors to review prescription records if they believe the medication may have affected the driver. That is what happened in Woods’ case.

In alcohol-related DUI cases in Florida, if a driver’s blood-alcohol level is 0.08% or higher, the law considers that person impaired. However, cases involving prescription drugs or other medicines are more complicated, as there is no exact number or test that automatically proves someone was impaired. Because of that, the prosecution in Woods’ case needs his prescriptions.

Now, if they find important details in Tiger Woods’ prescription records, it could have a big impact on his DUI case.

The records may help prosecutors argue that Woods was impaired by medication while driving during the March crash. If the records show Woods possessed medication without a prescription, the case could become much more serious, as questions may arise as to where the medication came from. That could lead to potential charges for illegal possession of prescription medicine.

Under Florida law, felony DUI charges usually happen when a driver has several prior DUI convictions or when a crash causes serious bodily harm or death to another person. Because Woods has no prior DUI convictions (his 2017 arrest was reduced to reckless driving) and the crash caused no serious injuries, the case is being treated as a first-time misdemeanor rather than a felony.

According to former Florida prosecutor and defense attorney David Haenel, a first-time DUI conviction in Florida carries a few mandatory consequences. These include: 

• Up to 12 months of probation
• Mandatory DUI school
• ⁠50 hours of community service
• ⁠A fine that can reach $1,000
• ⁠Suspension or revocation of a driver’s license for six months to one year

The maximum potential jail sentence for this type of misdemeanor is six months.

After the incident, Woods once again decided to step away from golf and focus on his health. He said he wanted treatment and recovery so he could improve both physically and personally.

At 50, Woods is running out of time to reclaim his place in the sport. A conviction would make that fight significantly harder.