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Tiger Woods withdraws from tournament, not talking (Reuters)

November 30, 2009

* Swirl of mystery still surrounds Woods accident

* Pulls out of event he has hosted for nine years

* Declines to talk to police about incident

By Jim Loney

MIAMI, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods pulled out of a golftournament this week, the latest fall-out from a minor caraccident that has left a swirl of mystery and a hint of scandalaround the world’s top golfer and pushed him into full damagecontrol.

The Florida Highway Patrol said in a terse statement onMonday that it was pursuing the crash investigation but hadstill not been able to interview Woods, who declined to meetwith investigators during the weekend.

Woods pulled out on Monday of the Chevron World Challengein Thousand Oaks, California, a tournament he has hosted fornine years. He said he could not attend the event that startson Thursday because of injuries suffered in the accident.

The greatest golfer of his generation and an unparalleledproduct pitchman whose personal fortune is estimated at $1billion, Woods was hospitalized briefly on Friday after hisCadillac Escalade hit a fire hydrant and a tree as he left thedriveway of his Windermere, Florida, home after 2 a.m.

Woods met Florida’s legal requirement by providing policewith his driver’s license, car registration and proof ofinsurance, and is not obliged to volunteer medical records,video from home security cameras or anything else investigatorsmight want, prominent Florida lawyer Roy Black said.

“Any lawyer with a brain in their head is not going toallow him to talk to the police because nothing good can comeof talking to the police,” said Black, who defended WilliamKennedy Smith, a member of America’s Kennedy clan, against arape charge, and radio host Rush Limbaugh in a drug fraudcase.

Woods said in a written statement on Sunday that theaccident was his fault and was “obviously embarrassing to myfamily and me.” He called irresponsible the “many false,unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulatingabout my family and me.”

TABLOIDS AWASH WITH SPECULATION

Tabloid media and celebrity websites are awash withspeculation that Woods and his wife, Elin, had been arguingbefore the crash. The National Enquirer has reported that Woodshad an extra-marital relationship with a “New York City partygirl.” The woman named in that report has denied arelationship.

The Florida Highway Patrol said it had not made anycomments on Woods’ medical information, an apparent referenceto a published report that investigators were seeking a searchwarrant for the hospital where the golfer was treated to obtainhis medical records.

Under Florida law, Woods has a right to keep medicalinformation private, but Black said under certain circumstancespolice have been able to seize hospital records.

“Unfortunately, yes. That was the issue in Rush Limbaugh’scase and the court upheld the use of a search warrant to seizemedical records,” he said. “But they (police) would have toconvince a judge that there was probable cause to believe acrime had been committed.”

One of the world’s most recognizable figures, Woods haslucrative endorsement deals with companies such as Nike andAT&T. So far, signs are that companies are standing by thepopular golfer.

The chatter about the greatest golfer of his generationand, according to Forbes magazine the world’s first billionaireathlete, was fueled in part by the circumstances—why was heleaving home at 2:25 a.m.?—and in part by a hint of troublein the Woods household.

The Enquirer report said that a New York nightclub hostessRachel Uchitel, had been “telling friends about a jet-setliaison” with the golfer. Uchitel has issued a denial.

“I did not have any involvement with him,” E! News quotedUchitel as saying.

Woods’ handlers have done the right thing by keeping theirclient away from the police, Black said, citing the recent caseof U.S. television talk show host David Letterman, who twomonths ago revealed he was the target of a $2 million blackmailplot, then admitted having affairs with women on his staff.

“By reporting that blackmail attempt to the police, all hedid was guarantee that all his dirty laundry would be playedout in the news media,” Black said. “Tiger Woods is a lotsmarter, so far at least.”

But William Moran, an attorney whose practice with the NewYork office of McCarter and English includes crisis management,said Woods would have been wiser to meet with the police.

“His problem that he’s now facing is that he’s possiblyrunning the risk of turning himself from a victim into anoffender here, if the police determine that he is obstructingjustice or tampering with evidence,” Moran said.

(Additional reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes and SteveGorman in Los Angeles and Ben Klayman in New York; Editing byFrances Kerry) ((jim.loney@thomsonreuters.com; +1 305 810 2688; ReutersMessaging: jim.loney.reuters.com@reuters.net))

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Woods withdraws from own golf tournament

November 30, 2009

THOUSAND OAKS, California (AP)—Tiger Woods withdrew Monday from his own golftournament, citing injuries from a car crash near his Florida home. He said hewould not compete again until next year.

Woods said in a statement on his Web site that his injuries prevented himfrom playing in the Chevron World Challenge. He was scheduled to hold a newsconference Tuesday for the tournament, which he hosts annually for a small,invited field.

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament thisweek,” Woods said. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m verysorry that I can’t be there.”

Related Video Tiger's Tiger's statement

Tiger's statement

No Tiger interview More PGA Tour Videos More Tiger Woods coverage Photos of Tigers wife, Elin Saga is a major PR disaster Transcript of 911 call made after the accident A A banner showing a photo of Ti… AP – Nov 30, 1:39 pm EST A golfer walks past a banner s… AP – Nov 30, 12:58 pm EST Posters showing Tiger Woods ha… AP – Nov 30, 12:57 pm EST FILE – This is a July 29, 2009… AP – Nov 30, 11:11 am EST Two vehicles with the Florida … AP – Nov 29, 5:21 pm EST FILE – In this June 11, 2009 f… AP – Nov 29, 12:17 pm EST Elin Nordegren, wife of golfer… AP – Nov 28, 12:37 pm EST Elin Nordegren, wife of golfer… AP – Nov 28, 11:06 am EST Elin Nordegren, wife of golfer… AP – Nov 28, 11:04 am EST FILE – Tiger Woods' wife, … AP – Nov 28, 1:15 am EST FILE – Tiger Woods with his da… AP – Nov 28, 1:11 am EST FILE – Tiger Woods' wife, … AP – Nov 28, 12:56 am EST Security guards gather near th… AP – Nov 27, 7:25 pm EST Health Central Hospital, where… AP – Nov 27, 6:53 pm EST Security guards gather near Ti… AP – Nov 27, 6:34 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:23 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:22 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:19 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:16 pm EST This aerial photo shows the ho… AP – Nov 27, 6:15 pm EST Todd Lewis, right, an announce… AP – Nov 27, 6:13 pm EST Cars enter the gated Isleworth… AP – Nov 27, 6:13 pm EST A car leaves the gated Islewor… AP – Nov 27, 6:03 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 5:42 pm EST A March 2001 photo shows Tiger… AP – Nov 27, 5:38 pm EST A March 2001 photo shows Tiger… AP – Nov 27, 4:54 pm EST FILE – In this Aug. 20, 2006, … AP – Nov 27, 3:20 pm EST FILE – In this April 8, 2001, … AP – Nov 27, 3:15 pm EST FILE – In this Nov. 15, 2009 f… AP – Nov 27, 3:07 pm EST FILE – In this Nov. 14, 2009 f… AP – Nov 27, 2:54 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 29; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = 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His decision to withdraw comes after a car crash left him with cuts andbruises when his SUV hit a fire hydrant and a tree early Friday outside his homein a gated Florida golf community. Woods was treated and released at a hospitalafter the accident, and has not been seen in public since.

By skipping the tournament, Woods will escape having to face TV cameras anda horde of media seeking more details about the smashup.

Woods released a statement Sunday saying the accident was his fault, but hedid not address any of the questions still swirling around it. He asked that itremain “a private matter,” but with the Florida Highway Patrol stillinvestigating and the media in full pursuit, Woods may not get his way.

Woods even faced questions from fans leaving comments on his own Web site.Most voiced support for the golfer, but some said he should address thequestions about his own actions and those of his wife, Elin Nordegren, beforeand after the accident.

Woods hasn’t answered questions from Florida troopers, either, turning themdown three days in a row. Meanwhile, the tabloid-fueled rumors continue to swirlaround perhaps the richest and most-recognizable athletes in the world.

Four cars were parked in Woods’ driveway Monday, but no lights appeared tobe on inside. A new fire hydrant had already replaced the one that Woods plowedinto. A dirt hole and an orange barricade remained in the old hydrant’s place.

Woods, who both hosts and plays in the Chevron World Challenge, was therelast year even though he couldn’t play because he was recovering from kneesurgery. His absence this year will be the first since the tournament—whichhas only an 18-player field—began in 1999.

Though he cited injuries from the accident in withdrawing from thetournament, Woods didn’t specifically say what those injuries included. Aneighbor who called 911 after Woods ran over the hydrant and into a tree said hewas unconscious and laying outside his SUV. His wife told Windermere police sheused a golf club to smash the back windows to help him out.

Woods’ only public comment has been via two statements released on his Website, one saying the accident was his fault alone and the second saying he waswithdrawing from the tournament.

“This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way,” Woods said.“Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded andmalicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me areirresponsible. …

“I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received,” thestatement concluded. “But, I would also ask for some understanding that myfamily and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.”

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China vows crackdown on illegal golf courses

November 30, 2009

BEIJING (AP)—China plans a major crack down on illegal golf courseconstruction. First, though, it needs to figure out how many of the illicitlinks are in the country.

Construction of new courses has been so rapid, widespread and unregulatedthat Beijing officials can only estimate how many have been built. One guess,appearing in the China Daily newspaper Tuesday, put the number at 2,700 by 2015— up from none before 1984 and more than 500 today.

“We still don’t know the exact figure, but we’re working on it and willhave the information by 2010,” the head of land planning at the Ministry ofLand and Natural Resources, Dong Zuoji, was quoted as saying. “The culpritswill face harsh punishment.”

Alarmed at the loss of arable land in this crowded nation of 1.3 billionpeople, China began restricting golf course construction in the earlier part ofthe decade, with Premier Wen Jiabao vowing in 2007 to enforce a total ban.

Construction has plowed ahead, however, with developers apparently countingon presenting a fait accompli to regulators as has been the case with housingdevelopments built on farmland surrounding Beijing, Shanghai and other majorcities.

An estimated 3 million Chinese play golf and industry revenues from coursesand equipment rose as high as 60 billion yuan ($8.8 billion) last year, ChinaDaily reported. The sport’s backers forecast as many as 20 million potentialChinese golfers taking up the sport.

Golf is very much an elite sport in China, where a round can cost $150—about the average monthly wage for many factory workers.

Memberships at elite clubs such as Shanghai’s Sheshan, home to the HSBCMasters, have risen to about 1.5 million yuan ($220,000). A growing number ofinternational and domestic events have attracted droves of fans and players,while golf’s reintroduction into the Olympic program for 2016 is bound to raiseits profile still further among sports officials obsessed with topping the goldmedal tally.

How officials will reconcile that popularity with the need to rein in courseconstruction isn’t clear.

According to Dong, a joint investigation into illegal courses involving hisministry and a half-dozen other government departments was launched inSeptember.

China Daily said experts plan to use satellite technology to monitor courseconstruction, but the report did not say whether courses would be plowed up andreturned to farmland or whether developers would simply face fines and otherpunishment.

It’s not just 18 hole courses that are encroaching on land intended forother purposes. State broadcaster CCTV recently reported on a controversy inShanghai where a commercial driving range had sprung up in the middle of apublic park.

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Daly calls on Woods to end speculation

November 30, 2009

SYDNEY, Australia (AP)—John Daly doesn’t want to know the reasons behind TigerWoods’ late-night car crash. He just wants Woods healthy and back on the tour.

Daly, a dual major winner who has had his share of off-the-course troubles,said Monday he doesn’t share the public fascination with the facts behind Woods’accident outside his Florida home.

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“I don’t really care what happened between Tiger and … whatever happened.I’m just glad he’s OK,” said Daly, who will play in the Australian Openstarting Thursday. “We need him, probably more than anybody on the tour, tokeep things going, the way the economy is.”

Woods had just pulled out of his driveway when he struck a fire hydrant andthen a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol accident report. Theworld’s No. 1 golfer later said he had cuts and bruises, and “right now I’m alittle sore.”

“Tiger’s the biggest asset the tour’s had in a long, long time,” Dalysaid. “Whatever happened, as long as he’s OK that’s all that matters. Golfneeds him badly … no doubt.”

Woods is scheduled to compete at his Chevron World Challenge, which startsThursday in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The tournament director did not know if Woodswould play or even attend.

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Golf-Woods to miss Chevron World Challenge tournament (Reuters)

November 30, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods has decided hewill not play in this week’s Chevron World Challenge golf eventwhich he has hosted in Thousand Oaks, California, for the pastnine years.

World number one Woods, who has dominated news headlinessince crashing his SUV outside his Florida home in the earlyhours of Friday morning, said he would not attend due toinjuries sustained in the accident.

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at mytournament this week,” Woods, 33, said in a statement on hisofficial website (http://web.tigerwoods.com). (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by John Mehaffey. Toquery or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) ((mark.stokes@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7933; ReutersMessaging: mark.stokes.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the Reuterssports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport))

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Eclipsing Nicklaus becomes tougher for Tiger (Yahoo! Sports)

November 30, 2009

The earlier dramatic changes in his personal life did not derail Tiger Woods one bit in his steady pursuit of the single career achievement than means more than any other: securing major title No. 19 to pass the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

He got married to Elin Nordegren in October of 2004. No problem. Woods won the Masters and PGA in 2005.

His father and mentor, Earl, died in May of 2006. After missing the cut in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in June, he captured the British Open and the PGA.

Nothing, it seemed, not even a broken leg in June of 2008, could keep Woods from racking up majors at the rate of about one a year to reach the total of 14.

Nothing until now.

And this is different. Much different.

How he will extricate himself, and his reputation, from his current predicament over a mysterious late-night car accident is unclear. It will not be with the typical smoothness he demonstrates in his day job. As private and controlling as Woods is, the media, which has been overly deferent to him through the years, will not fold like his overmatched playing partners on Sunday afternoons. The media will make bogeys, perhaps a slew of them, but it will also make Y.E. Yang, who outdueled Woods at this year’s PGA, look passive by comparison.

Yet, how ever Tigergate plays out, one consequence seems irrefutable: Woods will never be quite the same, nor will our perception of him, and that has to affect him on the golf course. He is human. Even he admits it.

Since he made a few early mistakes – the off-color jokes he told in a 1997 GQ story stand out – Woods has escaped any real scrutiny off the course in over a decade since.

Forget about his frequent profanities in the heat of battle. They have barely made a ripple in his rep. A club “flew” out of his hands, hit the ground, and then bounced into the gallery in Australia a few weeks ago, and he essentially got a free pass. Nothing has come close to causing damage to his status as a worldwide hero.

Already, in 2009, however, we learned he is no longer automatic in majors when he has the lead going into the final round.

But that incredible mark of perfection – he was 14-for-14 before Hazeltine – was bound to fall and he knew it. Those who suggest he will feel more pressure the next time he finds himself in a similar position, and therefore more likely to come up short again, are fooling themselves. Woods has always known how to block out everything else, even prior failings, when in a zone only he can attain.

Give Woods a two-shot lead over Yang next time in the final round of a major, and who do you think you will prevail? Next question.

Yet surpassing Jack will now be more difficult than ever. Besides the competition from the improving young guns, Woods, who turns 34 later this month and is likely to face more physical issues in the years ahead, must learn to cope with a landscape that has been altered for good. Even he is powerless to change that.

He will surely generate plenty of support from his colleagues on the PGA Tour – the game would be in tremendous trouble without him – and from his fans. But the unpredictable remains just that, unpredictable.

Perhaps there is an opportunity here for Woods. Perhaps, in his greatest personal test, he will reach out to the public like never before and understand we are a forgiving society ready to admire and adore him even more if he were to address the unresolved questions of last Friday and admit his mistakes, and not in a statement on his Web site. We want to see him and hear him in person and then, only then, can we all move on.

The pressure on Woods to eclipse Nicklaus will be intense, especially as he edges closer to the mark he has dreamed about since he was a kid. Majors No. 18 and 19 will be the hardest of all.

Gone, due to Yang’s remarkable play, is the inevitability the rest of the field has always sensed when Woods was in his customary position on top of the leaderboard on Sunday afternoons. The way in which other accomplished players suddenly looked like hackers was one of the most puzzling, and impressive, parts of the Woods era.

From now on, nothing will be certain on the course.

Nothing will be certain off the course, as well.

Michael Arkush is an editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Michael a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

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ANALYSIS-Golf-Tiger’s world in spin since mysterious car crash (Reuters)

November 30, 2009

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES, Nov 30 (Reuters) – News of his car accident inWindermere, Florida, turned the carefully managed life of TigerWoods upside down on Friday, provoking far more questions thananswers.

Speculation about the background to the incident has been

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Image gurus to Woods: Go public like Letterman

November 30, 2009

When it comes to dealing with a personal crisis, Tiger Woods could learn alot from David Letterman, media experts say.

Instead of a vague statement that left many questions unanswered, thelate-night comic went very public with his admission of bad behavior, and evencracked a few jokes at his own expense. After a few days, everyone moved on.

“Men and women have been forgiven by their public for misbehavior ormisstepping, and even philandering,” said Gene Grabowski, who guideshigh-profile figures—Roger Clemens is a client—through public relationscrises as a senior vice president with Washington-based Levick StrategicCommunications.

A A caddie walks past an adverti… AP – Nov 30, 2:05 pm EST FILE – In this Nov. 21, 2009 f… AP – Nov 30, 1:05 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 1; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091130/capt.c6342fc1bf9b48edb996cc45f986f860.woods_image_ny113.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=57&yc=1&wc=299&hc=332&q=70&sig=rU1w4AszU5PK9etU.SHNjw--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 2 Golf Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();

“But what they have never been forgiven for is the cover-up,” he said.

Of course, Woods doesn’t have his own talk show, and a public mea culpaisn’t his style, anyway. The world’s most famous athlete and No. 1 golfer goesto great lengths to guard his image, on and off the course. He steers clear ofanything with even a hint of controversy, anything that would raise an eyebrow.

But his statement Sunday about the “embarrassing” situation surroundinghis car crash, coupled with his refusal to meet with police, is only heighteningsuspicion that something is not quite what it seems.

“It’s his privilege not to address the other innuendoes and reports thathave surfaced over the last three or four days,” said Steve Rosner, co-founderof 16W Marketing. “But by not addressing them, I believe he has set up asituation where the story will continue to be the story.”

Woods withdrew from his own golf tournament this week, the Chevron WorldChallenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., citing injuries from the car crash. Whilethat may spare him from facing reporters for now, he is almost certain to bequestioned about it at the end of January, when he is likely to make his 2010debut at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif.

Letterman’s indiscretions had all the makings of a long-running tabloidcover story. While not telling all, the married father admitted he’d had sexwith women who worked on his show, with one of the trysts leading to an allegedblackmail plot.

By revealing that himself, Letterman followed the No. 1 rule in crisiscommunication: Take control of the story.

“My recommendation is always to get out in front and curtail speculation bydistributing fact,” said George Merlis, founder of Experience Media ConsultingGroup. “Because the speculation gets dangerous and, once it’s out there,speculation has a nasty habit of becoming accepted as fact.

“By not talking or addressing issues, you’re inviting everyone on all sidesto express vague opinions, and they end up dominating the conversation.”

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte figured that out. Ratherthan stonewalling or sidestepping allegations they used performance-enhancingdrugs, like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire did, both admitted it and apologized.While Bonds and McGwire remain pariahs, Rodriguez was treated like a hero as theYankees won their 27th World Series title. Pettitte hung out with Letterman.

When Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, he tearfully admitted he wasguilty of adultery—and nothing else. Charges were later dropped and while hisreputation took a brief hit, fans have obviously gotten over it. His jersey isthe top seller in the United States, Europe and China.

Woods’ troubles began with a middle-of-the-night accident outside hisIsleworth estate.

He crashed his Cadillac SUV at 2:25 a.m. Friday, and his wife told policeshe used a golf club to smash the back window to help him out. But Woods has yetto say where he was going at that hour, or explain how he lost control of theSUV when the speed didn’t even cause the air bags to deploy.

“It doesn’t add up,” Grabowski said. “He needs to do a better job ofdescribing the cause of the accident. That’s the crux of the question.”

In a statement posted Sunday on his Web site, Woods said only that theaccident was his fault.

“It’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” he said. “I’m humanand I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

He acknowledged the “many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that arecurrently circulating about my family and me,” but didn’t address them exceptto say they are “irresponsible.” He then asked for privacy.

The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a storyalleging that Woods had been seeing a New York night club hostess. The woman,Rachel Uchitel, denied having an affair with Woods when contacted by TheAssociated Press.

“I’m not sure it’s his moral responsibility to the general public to sayevery bit of what’s going on,” Rosner said. “But I personally don’t think it’sgoing to go away now because he did not address the rumors and innuendoes of thereports about his personal life.”

And the truth always comes out, said Mike Paul, founder and president of MGP& Associates PR. Evading an issue, Paul said, will only encourage people to digfurther, to find evidence of what they assume or suspect to be true.

Besides, it’s a little too late to plead for privacy, Paul said.

In becoming a professional athlete—particularly one who earns tens ofmillions each year from endorsements—Woods assumed a responsibility to fans,Paul said. He owes them answers, even when they’re embarrassing, deeply personalor concern matters ordinary people would never be asked to discuss.

“Your fans are asking the question, you have to answer it,” Paul said.“They will not stop asking it until they get an answer.”

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Tiger Woods headlines from around world

November 30, 2009

Some headlines from around the world on Tiger Woods and his car accidentoutside his Florida home:

England:

— “Wife Went for Tiger Over Birdie”—News of the World.

— “Crouching Tiger, hidden hydrant”—The Sunday Times.

— “Was he fleeing the ire of the Tigress?”—The Sunday Express.

— “Tell Us The Truth Tiger”—Daily Mirror.

Germany=

— “Tiger Woods—Was accident a bloody marital war?”—Bild.

— “Accident: What does Tiger Woods conceal?”—tz (Munich tabloid).

— “Mysterious accident of Tiger Woods”—FAZ

Italy:

— “Tiger’s Idea. A diamond to make peace with Elin”—Il Messaggero.

— “Tiger Like Kobe Bryant: a diamond for the wife”—Corriere della Sera.

France=

— “Woods Scared America”—L’Equipe.

Spain:

— “Tiger rejects the ‘malicious rumors”’—Sports daily Marca.

— “Tiger takes responsibility for the accident”—El Pais.

— “The tigress’ claws”—El Mundo.

Australia:

— “Tiger Woods sheds no light on ‘embarrassing’ crash”—The Australiannational newspaper.

— “Tiger: “Crash my fault.”—The Age, Melbourne.

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Woods withdraws from tourney

November 30, 2009

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP)—Tiger Woods has withdrawn from his own golftournament after citing injuries from a car crash near his Florida home.

Woods said in a statement on his Web site Monday that injuries won’t allowhim to play in the Chevron World Challenge. He said he would return tocompetition next year.

Related Video Tiger's Tiger's statement

Tiger's statement

No Tiger interview More PGA Tour Videos More Tiger Woods coverage Photos of Tigers wife, Elin Saga is a major PR disaster Transcript of 911 call made after the accident A A banner showing a photo of Ti… AP – Nov 30, 1:39 pm EST A golfer walks past a banner s… AP – Nov 30, 12:58 pm EST Posters showing Tiger Woods ha… AP – Nov 30, 12:57 pm EST FILE – This is a July 29, 2009… AP – Nov 30, 11:11 am EST Two vehicles with the Florida … AP – Nov 29, 5:21 pm EST FILE – In this June 11, 2009 f… AP – Nov 29, 12:17 pm EST Elin Nordegren, wife of golfer… AP – Nov 28, 12:37 pm EST Elin Nordegren, wife of golfer… AP – Nov 28, 11:06 am EST Elin Nordegren, wife of golfer… AP – Nov 28, 11:04 am EST FILE – Tiger Woods' wife, … AP – Nov 28, 1:15 am EST FILE – Tiger Woods with his da… AP – Nov 28, 1:11 am EST FILE – Tiger Woods' wife, … AP – Nov 28, 12:56 am EST Security guards gather near th… AP – Nov 27, 7:25 pm EST Health Central Hospital, where… AP – Nov 27, 6:53 pm EST Security guards gather near Ti… AP – Nov 27, 6:34 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:23 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:22 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:19 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 6:16 pm EST This aerial photo shows the ho… AP – Nov 27, 6:15 pm EST Todd Lewis, right, an announce… AP – Nov 27, 6:13 pm EST Cars enter the gated Isleworth… AP – Nov 27, 6:13 pm EST A car leaves the gated Islewor… AP – Nov 27, 6:03 pm EST A security officer guards the … AP – Nov 27, 5:42 pm EST A March 2001 photo shows Tiger… AP – Nov 27, 5:38 pm EST A March 2001 photo shows Tiger… AP – Nov 27, 4:54 pm EST FILE – In this Aug. 20, 2006, … AP – Nov 27, 3:20 pm EST FILE – In this April 8, 2001, … AP – Nov 27, 3:15 pm EST FILE – In this Nov. 15, 2009 f… AP – Nov 27, 3:07 pm EST FILE – In this Nov. 14, 2009 f… AP – Nov 27, 2:54 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 29; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = 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“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament thisweek,” Woods said. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m verysorry that I can’t be there.”

His decision to withdraw comes after a car crash left him with cuts andbruises when his SUV hit a fire hydrant and a tree.

Written by chris · Filed Under PGA Golf | Leave a Comment 

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