WINDERMERE, Fla. — Tiger Woods finally gave his side of the story 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 which 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 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.
This time, the meeting was not rescheduled.
Even so, Sgt. Kim Montes of FHP said troopers went to Woods’ $2.4 million estate, only for attorney Mark NeJame to turn them away. The attorney gave troopers Woods’ driver’s license, registration and insurance as required by law.
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.”
Woods is scheduled to compete at his Chevron World Challenge, which starts Thursday in Thousand Oaks, Calif., although his tournament director did not know whether Woods would play or even attend.
The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging Woods had been seeing a New York nightclub hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters.
The woman, Rachel Uchitel, denied having an affair with Woods when contacted by The Associated Press.
Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred confirmed she was representing Uchitel when she was reached by The AP on Sunday.
