'Embarrassed' Woods accepts blame for crash
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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TIGER Woods finally gave his side of the story on Sunday - on his Website, not to police - and took the blame for an "embarrassing" car crash that gave him cuts, bruises and public scrutiny like never before.
His statement failed to clear up any questions about the middle-of-the-night accident outside his Isleworth estate in Florida. His wife told police she used a golf club to smash the back windows of the Cadillac SUV to help him out.
"This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me," Woods said on his Website. "I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again."
The statement was posted around 2pm on Sunday, about an hour after Woods' attorney told the Florida Highway Patrol that for the third straight day golf's No. 1 player would be unavailable to talk to troopers.
Even so, Sgt. Kim Montes of FHP said troopers went to Woods' US$2.4 million estate anyway, only for attorney Mark NeJame to turn them away. The attorney gave troopers Woods' driver's license, registration and insurance as required by law for such accidents.
Woods said the crash was a private matter, and he intended 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," he said. "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."
The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York night club hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters.
The woman, Rachel Uchitel, has denied having an affair with Woods. Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred confirmed she was representing Uchitel.
Uchitel arrived at Los Angeles International Airport late on Sunday morning, where she was met by Allred and escorted out of the baggage claim area and into a black car. Uchitel did not speak to reporters.
Temper
Aside from occasional criticism of his temper inside the ropes, Woods has kept himself out of the news beyond his sport. He is scheduled to compete at his Chevron World Challenge this week in Thousand Oaks, California, although his tournament director did not know Woods' status for the tournament - whether he would play or even attend.
Even with his first public comments on the 2:25am Friday accident, Woods left several questions.
- Where he was going at that time of the night?
- How did he lose control of his SUV at such a speed that the air bags didn't deploy?
- Why were both rear windows of the Cadillac Escalade smashed?
- If it was a careless mistake, why not speak to state troopers trying to wrap the investigation?
Woods' wife turned troopers away from their home in the exclusive gated community outside Orlando on Friday because "he was sleeping."
"We're just continuing our traffic crash investigation," Montes said. "If we have somebody who we feel is pertinent to the investigation, then we will interview them."
She said the 911 caller was interviewed on Saturday, and investigators might speak with other people who were at the scene as well.
According to the FHP accident report, Woods had just pulled out of his driveway when he struck a fire hydrant and then a tree. Woods said he had cuts, bruising and "right now I'm a little sore."
Montes said the Woods' car was towed for "safekeeping."
His statement failed to clear up any questions about the middle-of-the-night accident outside his Isleworth estate in Florida. His wife told police she used a golf club to smash the back windows of the Cadillac SUV to help him out.
"This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me," Woods said on his Website. "I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again."
The statement was posted around 2pm on Sunday, about an hour after Woods' attorney told the Florida Highway Patrol that for the third straight day golf's No. 1 player would be unavailable to talk to troopers.
Even so, Sgt. Kim Montes of FHP said troopers went to Woods' US$2.4 million estate anyway, only for attorney Mark NeJame to turn them away. The attorney gave troopers Woods' driver's license, registration and insurance as required by law for such accidents.
Woods said the crash was a private matter, and he intended 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," he said. "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."
The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York night club hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters.
The woman, Rachel Uchitel, has denied having an affair with Woods. Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred confirmed she was representing Uchitel.
Uchitel arrived at Los Angeles International Airport late on Sunday morning, where she was met by Allred and escorted out of the baggage claim area and into a black car. Uchitel did not speak to reporters.
Temper
Aside from occasional criticism of his temper inside the ropes, Woods has kept himself out of the news beyond his sport. He is scheduled to compete at his Chevron World Challenge this week in Thousand Oaks, California, although his tournament director did not know Woods' status for the tournament - whether he would play or even attend.
Even with his first public comments on the 2:25am Friday accident, Woods left several questions.
- Where he was going at that time of the night?
- How did he lose control of his SUV at such a speed that the air bags didn't deploy?
- Why were both rear windows of the Cadillac Escalade smashed?
- If it was a careless mistake, why not speak to state troopers trying to wrap the investigation?
Woods' wife turned troopers away from their home in the exclusive gated community outside Orlando on Friday because "he was sleeping."
"We're just continuing our traffic crash investigation," Montes said. "If we have somebody who we feel is pertinent to the investigation, then we will interview them."
She said the 911 caller was interviewed on Saturday, and investigators might speak with other people who were at the scene as well.
According to the FHP accident report, Woods had just pulled out of his driveway when he struck a fire hydrant and then a tree. Woods said he had cuts, bruising and "right now I'm a little sore."
Montes said the Woods' car was towed for "safekeeping."
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