Golf:World number one Tiger Woods has returned home near Orlando Florida after being briefly hospitalised following a car crash last night.

According to local officials, Woods' car struck a fire hydrant and a tree as he drove from the driveway of his home at around 2am local time yesterday morning.

The 33-year-old was treated for facial lacerations before being released. Police said alcohol was not a factor in the incident.

A hospital spokesperson said Woods was released in "good condition".

A local police chief said Woods' wife used a golf club to smash a window of his SUV to get him out.

Woods made a triumphant return to professional golf this year after missing much of last season following reconstructive knee surgery.

Windermere Police Chief Daniel Saylor told CNNwhen his officers arrived at the scene Woods "was on the ground, semi-unconscious and had lacerations to the upper and lower lips."

Woods was bleeding from the mouth and was "in and out of it for several minutes," Saylor said.

He said Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, "explained to my officers that the doors were locked and she could not gain entry" into the crashed vehicle, so she "used a golf club" to smash a window.

Woods was the only passenger in the vehicle, Saylor said.

The accident was not alcohol-related, the FHP said. "The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending," it said.

Mr Woods' office, in a statement published on his website, said: "He was admitted, treated and released today in good condition. We appreciate very much everyone's thoughts and well wishes."

Tiger Woods is arguably the world's richest athlete and the biggest draw in world golf as he chases Jack Nicklaus' record for 18 major victories. He has won 71 times on the PGA Tour in a glittering career that includes 14 major wins.

He returned to action in February this year after being sidelined for eight months due to the knee surgery, and finished on top of the FedEx Cup standings for the season.

The Orlando Sentinelnewspaper, citing the highway patrol, reported that the airbags in the Cadillac did not deploy, an indication that the car was traveling under 33 mph.

"Basically it was facial lacerations, and as I'm understanding it, nothing that serious," Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn told CNN.

Forbesmagazine said in September that Woods' victory in the FedEx Cup, with its $10 million prize, had made him the first billionaire athlete. He has lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Buick, Gillette and Gatorade.

"Like millions of fans around the world, we are grateful he was not seriously hurt and has been released in good condition," said Michael Norton, spokesman for Gillette, which is owned by Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

Forbes said earlier this year that Woods was the highest earner in sports with $110 million during the previous 12 months, two and a half times that of his nearest competitor.

His impact on the sport has gone beyond his performances and earnings. As a player of mixed ethnic descent - his father was African-American and his mother was from Thailand - he is credited with broadening the appeal of the game.

Woods, who has two young children with Nordegren, is scheduled to host his annual Chevron World Challenge tournament in Thousand Oaks, California, next week. It starts on Thursday.

Born in Cypress, California, Woods was destined for golf stardom when he won three consecutive US junior titles and three successive US amateur championships before turning pro in late 1996.

Agencies