Woods qualifies for diversionary program

Lawyer: Golfer to skip arraignment stemming from May DUI arrest

Tiger Woods is scheduled to make his first court appearance related to his May arrest for driving under the influence.

But Woods’ lawyer, Douglas Duncan, said the 14-time major champion would not attend Wednesday’s arraignment in Florida.

Woods appears to meet the qualifications for Palm Beach County’s first-time DUI offender program, in which a 12-month monitoring program is mandated instead of community service or jail time, a deal that could be made public at the arraignment.

The program, created four years ago, would result in the DUI charge being dropped and the case sealed after completion of the monitoring program.

“Looking at the facts of Tiger’s case, I don’t see any reason why he should not be offered entry into the program,” Steven Bell, a partner at Meltzer & Bell who has handled thousands of DUI cases in Palm Beach County, told USA TODAY Sports. “When you look at the probable cause affidavit, the case is very similar to the cases I’ve handled where my clients have been allowed entry into the program.”

Woods’ hearing was originally scheduled for July 5 but was postponed to Wednesday.

His lawyer can enter a not guilty plea on Woods’ behalf Wednesday. Woods would be required to attend the hearing for any other plea, the Associated Press reported.

Three filings made by by the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office on Tuesday could be a precursor to Woods’ admittance into the program, Bell said. There was no mention of the diversionary program in the filings.

Bell said the decision to allow any defendant into the program in Palm Beach County is at the sole discretion of the prosecutor, based upon the facts of each case. The decision to allow a defendant to enter the first-time offender program is typically made after the arraignment.

Messages left with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office were not returned Tuesday.

Woods, 41, was arrested May 29 in Jupiter, where he has a home, after police found him asleep inside his running Mercedes-Benz with a blinker on.

In dashcam video, Woods appeared unsteady on his feet and had to be asked the same question multiple times.

Tests showed Woods had no al- cohol in his system. He told officers he had taken Xanax and other prescribed medications.

Woods had fusion surgery on his back in April, the fourth procedure on his back since 2014.

He has played in one PGA Tour event this year, missing the cut in January’s Farmers Insurance Open.

Woods announced July 3 that he had completed an in-patient treatment program to help manage his medications and to deal with a sleep disorder.

“I will continue to tackle this going forward with my doctors, family and friends. I am so very thankful for all of the support I’ve received,” Woods said in a statement.