Tiger Woods releases statement but stonewalls police

BEIJING, November 30, (Xinhuanet) -- Tiger Woods, the golfing champion, broke a three day silence and released a statement via his website tigerwoods.com following a car crash on Friday. However the golfer has still refused to speak to police about the incident which occurred outside his Orlando home.

In his statement Woods says he sustained some injuries. "I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore," he said. He goes on to say the crash was his own fault and an embarrassment to himself and his family. But he adds, "I'm human and I'm not perfect."

He also asks for privacy despite acknowledging the interest in the incident. "This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way," Woods writes, "Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible."

Many papers and websites have published stories suggesting Woods was running away from his Swedish supermodel wife after a fight over allegations he had an affair with Manhattan club hostess Rachel Uchitel. Woods has made no reference to these allegations though he insists the only person involved in the crash was himself. He also spoke of his wife coming to his aid following the crash. "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," he said. The golfer divulged no details of what caused the crash outside of his suburban home or the status of his relationship with his wife, Elin Nordegren.

Meanwhile Woods has avoided talking to police about the incident. For a third time an appointment with police was cancelled on Monday by his lawyer Mark Nejame. "It has not been rescheduled," said Sgt. Kim Montes, a spokeswoman for the Florida Highway Patrol, but added that Woods was not required by law to give a statement. "The crash investigation is ongoing and charges are pending," she said.

Friday's crash saw Woods driving his black Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree after reversing from his driveway. According to police his wife Elin Nordegren then used a golf club to smash a window to aid her husband's escape. A tape of a 911 emergency call was released late Sunday though it has revealed little of the events following the crash. In the recording a neighbor tells police there has been a traffic accident outside his house in Windermere, Florida. "I have someone down outside my house, they hit a pole," the caller tells police. Asked if anyone was in the car he says, "No, they're lying on the ground."

Rachel Uchitel, the girl who is alleged to have had an affair with Tiger Woods left her Manhattan apartment early Sunday for Kennedy Airport. She emerged from her Meatpacking District residence at 5:45 a.m. to walk her two dogs before leaving for the airport with a large bag. In statements to several newspapers she has denied having an affair with Woods.