GOLF : Tiger Woods has pulled out of his own tournament this week due to the injuries he suffered in a car crash last Friday.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of his own tournament this week due to the injuries he suffered in a car crash last Friday.
Woods is tournament host for the Chevron World Challenge but released a statement on his website on Monday night to confirm he will miss the event in California.
“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” said Woods. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry that I can’t be there.”
Earlier in the day, Florida Highway Patrol had distanced themselves from reports that they are seeking search warrants for medical records relating to Woods’ facial injuries.
Speculation continued as to the events that led to golf’s world number one crashing his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant outside his Windermere, Florida, house and then a neighbour’s tree, an accident in the early hours of Friday that led to Woods being treated in hospital for facial lacerations.
Woods issued a statement taking full responsibility for the accident but denied Florida Highway Patrol troopers an interview for the third day in a row and engaged high-profile Orlando defence attorney Mark NeJame to represent him as the crash investigation continued.
ON Monday, reports surfaced that an FHP source had said the investigating officers were applying for a search warrant to obtain hospital records of Woods’ treatment at Ocoee Hospital.
A police statement, however, dismissed the suggestion.
“As of November 30, 2009, the Florida Highway Patrol has been unable to speak to Mr Woods about the crash he was involved in on the morning of November 27, 2009, despite attempts to do so,” the statement read. “Mr Woods’ representatives have provided us with his driver licence information, vehicle registration and current proof of insurance, as required by Florida Law.
“Contrary to various media reports, the Florida Highway Patrol has not made any comments regarding the details of the ongoing crash investigation involving Tiger Woods as it relates to medical information, or any other aspect of this investigation. The crash investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.”
