Tiger issues crash statement

By Simon Lewis, Press Association Sport, New York Last updated: 29th November 2009

Tiger Woods broke his silence about the car accident he was involved in early on Friday morning as Florida Highway Patrol were informed the world number one golfer had cancelled another scheduled interview with its troopers and appointed a lawyer to represent him in the case.

Woods, 33, issued a statement on his official website on Sunday at around the same time as investigators made public the development that Mark Nejame was representing the 14-time major winner.

FHP also released the emergency 911 telephone call made by a neighbour in Windermere, Florida, to report the incident which saw Woods reverse his Cadillac sports utility vehicle into a fire hydrant and then drive forwards into a neighbour's tree at around 2:35am on Friday morning.

Responding officers found the American star lying in the road outside his house with Woods' wife Elin in attendance, the golfer drifting in and out of consciousness and having suffered facial lacerations.

"As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore," Woods' statement read.

"This 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."

Woods also moved to counter the speculation that surfaced surrounding what prompted the accident.

"This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way," the statement continued. "Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumours 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."

In an FHP statement issued around the same time, police spokewoman Sergeant Kim Montes said: "Just after 1:00pm (6pm GMT), lawyer Mark Nejame contacted the Florida Highway Patrol to inform us that he is representing Tiger Woods.

"Mark Nejame stated that the interview that was scheduled for today has been cancelled.

"The traffic crash remains under investigation and charges are pending."

In the 911 call recording, an unnamed male is heard telling the emergency responder: "I need an ambulance immediately, I have a man down in front of my house.

"He hit a pole, I'm in the Isleworth subdivision.

"It's a car accident."

Asked if anyone was trapped inside the vehicle, the man answered: "No, they're laying on the ground."

The caller later told medical responders on the call: "I have a neighbour, he hit the tree and I came out here to see what was going on."

Asked if the injured party was unconscious, the male caller answered in the affirmative and added: "I'm with him right now," before responders lost contact with him as paramedics were dispatched.

Woods was taken to a local hospital and later discharged but on Saturday night had still not spoken to FHP troopers trying to learn the golfer's account of the incident as part of the accident investigation.

Woods is scheduled to make a media appearance on Tuesday in California, where he is set host the Chevron World Challenge event at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks near Los Angeles, his annual tournament to benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Woods made no mention of the tournament or his scheduled participation in the event in his statement.

Simon Lewis, Press Association Sport, New York