WINDERMERE – Golf star Tiger Woods accepted responsibility yesterday for the car incident that took place outside his Florida home and again cancelled an interview with investigating authorities.
The world’s top golfer said he wanted to keep the details about the accident private but a Florida Highway Patrol officer said charges still were pending.
Woods hit a fire hydrant and tree as he pulled his Cadillac Escalade out of the driveway of his house at about 2:25am on Friday, the Florida Highway Patrol said. He was taken to the hospital with injuries and released.
“This situation is my fault and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me, Woods (33) said on his official website (http://web.tigerwoods.com).
“I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.
“As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I’m pretty sore,” Woods’s statement read.
Woods also moved to counter the speculation that surfaced surrounding what prompted the accident. “This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way,” the statement continued. “Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumours that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.
“The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.
“This incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me. I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received. But I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.”
The golfer is likely to make his first public comment on the incident at a press conference today in southern California, where he is scheduled to host his golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, at Sherwood country club. That press conference now threatens to rival Michael Jackson’s funeral as one of the most watched cable news events this year.
At its centre will be the extraordinary claims being made by the US media, most notably the “celebrity gossip” website TMZ, that Woods’s injuries may not have been sustained as result of the car crash.
Initially it was reported the golfer's wife had "rescued" him by using a golf club to smash the rear window of the crashed vehicle but, quoting a "friend" of Woods, TMZ claimed the couple were involved in an argument and as the golfer drove away from his home his wife struck the car several times with the golf club. It was subsequently alleged that a dispute between the couple may have arisen as a result of the publication of claims in the National Enquirermagazine about his relationship with a New York nightclub hostess, Rachel Uchitel. Ms Uchitel yesterday denied the claims.
– (Reuters, PA, Guardian service)