Golfer Tiger Woods delays police questions over crash

Tiger Woods will not speak to police about his car crash outside his Florida home on Friday until Sunday, his agent has told police.

The golfer was found semi-conscious with facial injuries after his car reportedly hit a fire hydrant and tree.

Officers were told Woods' wife Elin had used a golf club to break the car's rear window and help him out.

The 14-time major champion was admitted to hospital and later released. Police had planned to talk to him on Saturday.

The incident occurred in the suburb of Isleworth, an exclusive area near Orlando, at 0225 local time (0725 GMT) on Friday.

Born: Eldrick Woods in December 1975 in Cypress, California First major title: In 1997, less than a year after turning professional Winner: Of 71 official PGA Tour events, including 14 majors Described as world's most marketable athlete, sponsorship deals with GM, Nike and others Focus on reluctant Woods Tiger Woods profile

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt Kim Montes said two troopers had attempted to contact Woods on Friday evening, but his wife said he was sleeping and they had agreed to come back the next day.

In a later statement, she said Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, had said that the couple were not available to speak to police on Saturday.

"Troopers were asked to return tomorrow (Sunday)," an FHP statement said.

"It is unusual that we haven't gotten a statement," said Sgt Montes.

"This just delays us to getting closer to the completion of the investigation. We'll work with them. The investigation will continue no matter what."

The authorities also said they expected to release on Sunday recordings of the 911 emergency call made to police.

Woods, who has been married for five years and has two young children, has recently been the subject of tabloid allegations about his private life.

Asked about reports the couple had been arguing in the hours leading up to the crash, the police said they were treating the incident as a traffic accident, not a domestic issue.

'Lacerations'

According to the highway patrol, alcohol was not a factor in the incident.

Chief Daniel Saylor of the Windermere Police Department said: "From what we understand, his wife came out of the house when she heard the accident, him hitting the fire hydrant, (and) used a golf club - that's what we were told - to break out the rear window to gain entrance into the vehicle, removed him from the vehicle and laid him down in the street.

"He was in and out of consciousness with lacerations to his upper and lower lip, with a little bit of blood in his mouth, but he was conscious enough to be able to speak a little bit. According to my officers, it was not life-threatening injuries."

In comments to the Associated Press news agency, Chief Saylor said his officers found the 33-year-old lying in the street with his wife hovering over him.

"She was frantic, upset. It was her husband laying on the ground."

Tiger and Elin Woods were married in 2004 and have two children

A joint statement from Health Central Hospital and Woods' office said: "Tiger Woods was in a minor car accident outside his home.

"He was admitted, treated and released in good condition.

"We appreciate very much everyone's thoughts and well wishes."

Woods, who has won six tournaments this year, is due to host the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California, on Thursday, although his agent Mark Steinberg of International Management Group said he did not know if his client planned to play.

Woods won the most recent of his 14 major titles at the US Open in 2008 when he beat countryman Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole play-off despite struggling with a serious knee injury.

He then underwent reconstructive knee surgery but has since made a successful comeback on the US PGA Tour.

Woods has become an international sporting icon since winning his first major in 1997 at the age of 21.

Tiger and Elin Woods were married in 2004.

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