Golfer Tiger Woods is expected to enter a driver education programme to resolve charges filed against him after he was found asleep at the wheel.
Tiger Woods. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Woods was arrested after he was found by police asleep in his parked car alongside a Florida road in May.
The former world No. 1 was not in court as his lawyer entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of driving under the influence.
But 41 -year-old Woods is expected to appear at the Palm Beach Gardens courthouse for an October 25th hearing to plead guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving.
The reckless driving plea would allow Woods to take part in a 12-month probation program that would involve community service, driving training, a substance abuse evaluation, possible treatment and other conditions.
Woods would avoid a drink drive conviction if he completes the program.
His lawyer, Douglas Duncan, declined to discuss the case with reporters at the courthouse on Wednesday.
Police found Woods stopped on the side of a Palm Beach-area road in his Mercedes-Benz at about 3 a.m. on May 29.
He had "extremely slow and slurred speech" after being awakened by a Jupiter police officer but was cooperative and told officers he takes several prescriptions, including Xanax, according to a police report.
In a statement after his arrest, Woods apologized to fans and blamed the incident on prescription medication he was taking to manage pain from a recent back surgery.
In mid-June, Woods said he was receiving professional help to manage his use of pain medications and a sleep disorder. The following month he announced he had completed an out-of-state program.
Woods has won 14 major golf championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus, but has competed little during the past two years after undergoing multiple back surgeries. He currently is not ranked on the PGA's list of top 1,000 players.
