WINDERMERE, Florida — Tiger Woods, the iconic golfer who was once the face of GM's Buick brand, continued to duck the police and media as of Monday morning following a single-vehicle crash that occurred early Friday in his luxury neighborhood near Orlando, Florida. Woods crashed his black 2009 Cadillac Escalade, sustaining minor injuries and touching off a firestorm of rumors in the media, including speculation about whether he is the victim of domestic violence.
Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren Woods, told police she used a golf club to break out the rear window of the vehicle, then pulled Woods from the SUV after she heard the accident from their home. But some media reports said police found no blood in the SUV, raising suspicions. Last week, a story in the National Enquirer alleged that Woods has been seeing a New York nightclub hostess. However, the woman denied having an affair with Woods when contacted by the Associated Press.
Woods, 33, canceled three meetings with Florida police over the weekend to discuss the crash, according to media reports, but posted a statement on his Web site on Sunday, saying "this is a private matter." On Monday, TMZ.com, the celebrity Web site, says the Florida Highway Patrol is "now focusing on obtaining a search warrant — allowing them to seize medical records from the hospital that treated Tiger Woods — in an attempt to determine if the wounds Woods sustained are consistent with a car accident or domestic violence."
Woods has withdrawn from the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament on Thursday in Thousand Oaks, California. The tournament raises money for the Tiger Woods Foundation. There was no mention of the crash on the event's Web site as of Monday morning.
Woods' statement on his own Web site offers no details about how the crash occurred.
"As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries," the statement read. "I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore. The situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again.
"This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors 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."
Florida police released an audiotape of the 911 call made following the crash.
"I have a neighbor, he hit the tree," the unidentified caller said. "And we came out here just to see what was going on. I see him and he's laying down."
The legendary golfer had been the face of the Buick brand in the United States, Canada and China until November 2008, when the two parted ways, in large part because of the downturn in the domestic auto industry.
Advertising Age had pegged the worth of the Tiger Woods-GM deal at up to $15 million.
Inside Line says: This may go down as the most high-profile crash of 2009, regardless of the details. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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