Woods pulls out of own event after car crash

Published on Monday 30 November 2009 23:13

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 last 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, who had been due to hold a press conference today. "I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there."

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell will replace Woods in the field.

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 No 1 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 cuts. 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.

Yesterday, 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. The statement read: "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."