More Details Emerge Regarding Woods' November Car Accident

I'm tired of Tiger Woods news.  You're tired of Tiger Woods news.  Golf.com is not.  They have some new scintillating details involving Tiger's infamous car crash:

The ambulance crew that responded after Tiger Woods crashed his SUV would not allow his wife to ride with him to the hospital because they suspected domestic violence, documents released Friday by the Florida Highway Patrol show.

But a police officer who responded said he didn't know where the crew got that information because he never heard it from anyone at the scene.

The reports also showed Woods' wife, Elin, turned over two bottles of pain pills to troopers after the Nov. 27 crash outside the couple's suburban Orlando home.

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The report showed Health Central Hospital, which treated Woods after the crash, refused to release blood test results to investigators without a warrant. The state attorney's office wouldn't request one, saying there wasn't enough probable cause that a crime had been committed.

Cpl. Thomas R. Dewitt, one of the highway patrol investigators, also wrote in his report that he asked for videotape from a security camera at the Woods' home.

"There were two cameras that should have documented (the vehicle) leaving the driveway and portions of the crash," Dewitt wrote.

But the golfer's lawyer, Mark NeJame, told him the couple didn't know if the camera worked and couldn't figure out how to remove the tape.

NeJame told Dewitt he had looked at monitors inside the home and they were blank. There was no indication whether officers got the video despite several requests.

Tiger hasn't played in a tournament since he won the Australian Masters on November 15.

According to People Magazine, which is at least one notch higher on the credibility scale than US Weekly, Elin Woods will leave Tiger. You’ve spent the last couple weeks either comatose or in orbit if you don’t already know the reason why Elin would want a divorce from Tiger. But to briefly review: He cheated on her. A lot. Like, A LOT, a lot. Okay, the second “a lot” is “reportedly,” but he has publicly admitted infidelity on some level.

More on the potential break-up from Yahoo!’s Devil Ball Golf:

The magazine quotes two unnamed sources on the issue. “She plans to leave Tiger,” said one. Another is even more direct: “She’s made up her mind. There’s nothing to think about: he’s never going to change.” The article will appear in the issue hitting newsstands on Friday.

Elin Woods has been repeatedly photographed in recent days without her wedding ring. Several sources have indicated that Elin Woods has been renegotiating the terms of her prenuptial agreement with Tiger Woods. And the New York Post has reported that moving vans have begun taking items out of the Woods household. (The tabloids have almost certainly descended on that moving company; it would be a lot easier to pry details out of an hourly-wage mover than a superstar-in-hiding.)

Perhaps this is best for both sides: Elin gets a dumptruck of cash from the prenup and doesn’t have to pretend to be loyal to an unfaithful husband and Tiger gets to keep playing milkman to the nation guilt-free.

In light of all this recent turmoil, and citing injuries he suffered in this accident, Tiger Woods announced today that he won’t be competing in any tournaments for the rest of the year, which, admittedly isn’t saying much, since December isn’t exactly known for its fabulous golfing action.

Still, the news means that Woods will miss this week’s Chevron World Challenge, a tournament he’d been scheduled to host. On missing that event, Tiger had this to say:

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” Woods said of the Chevron World Challenge in California. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry that I can’t be there.”

Contradicting what TMZ is reporting, the Florida Highway Patrol says that it is not seeking a search warrant in the Tiger Woods case, according to FOXNews.com

"We don't need a warrant to get records, that is incorrect," said Florida Highway Patrol Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Mark Welch.

TMZ reported that authorities were seeking Woods' medical records to determine whether his injuries are consistent with a car accident or domestic violence.

"We are seeking all information relevant to the ongoing investigation into the car crash," said Welch.

"We would seek medical information as it might relate to the cause of the crash."

In a new report at TMZ, they report that two FHP officers visited the hospital today where Tiger was treated.

After Tiger Woods and his wife Elin refused to speak with police for a third time on Sunday, the Florida Highway Patrol has shifted its focus from just walking up to Tiger's door and asking to speak with him to now trying to obtain a warrant, according to TMZ.

The FHP hopes to use a search warrant to gather medical records from the hospital where Tiger was treated to determine what caused his injuries -- the car crash or his wife.

One big piece of evidence showing probable cause ... sources tell us Tiger's wife, Elin Nordegren told FHP troopers she went looking for Tiger in a golf cart, came upon the accident and then used a golf club to break the window to gain entry. That's a very different story from what she first told Windemere cops shortly after the accident -- she never mentioned a golf cart. Nordegren told Windemere police she had walked out of her house, saw the crash, went back inside to get a golf club and returned to the vehicle.

Additionally, if Tiger was operating the vehicle while using prescription pain medication, that could be enough evidence for a DUI.

But wait, there's more! -- the police are also looking to obtain tapes from the security cameras that line the outside of Tiger's home.

TMZ has learned the home of Tiger and wife Elin Nordegren is fully loaded with security cameras and we're told at least one of the cameras show Tiger's exit from the house. We know the FHP wants the video.

As we first reported, the FHP wants a search warrant for Tiger's medical records. They also want the video -- the question, even if the FHP gets a warrant for the video ... what, if any, footage exists at this point?

For the first time since his car accident, Tiger Woods has made public comments. He did so via his web site:

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.

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.

This is a private matter and I want 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.

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.

It’s a pretty by-the-book contrite statement, except for the “I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again” bit. Yes, never again will Tiger Woods run his car into a fire hydrant and/or tree. Phew!

The circumstances surrounding Tiger Woods’ driveway adventure are still a little confusing at this point. Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, are not helping. For the second time in as many days, the couple has asked police to postpone questioning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, they were informed that the couple were not available to be interviewed by state troopers today, and asked police to return on Sunday to try to clear up any questions they have about the accident Woods’ had Friday morning.

The highway patrol said Woods agent made the announcement that Woods and his wife could not speak to police. Troopers first came to their home Friday afternoon, and were told to come back Saturday.

TMZ reports that Tiger Woods had a conversation in which he claimed that his facial lacerations were caused not by his car accident, but by his wife, Elin Nordegren:

Tiger has yet to be formally interviewed by the Florida Highway Patrol — that should happen this afternoon. But we’re told Tiger had a conversation Friday — with a non-law enforcement type — detailing what went down before his Escalade hit a fire hydrant.

We’re told he said his wife had confronted him about reports that he was seeing another woman. The argument got heated and, according to our source, she scratched his face up. We’re told it was then Woods beat a hasty retreat for his SUV — but according to our source, Woods says his wife followed behind with a golf club. As Tiger drove away, she struck the vehicle several times with the club.

How does this mesh with the earlier report of Nordegren freeing Woods from the car via smashing out the window with a golf club? It’s unclear at this point.

TMZ reports that prior to Tiger Woods’ accident, he and his wife, Elin Nordegren, had an argument, though there is no indication that it was anything more than verbal. After Woods crashed his SUV, Nordegren freed him from the vehicle by breaking out a window with a golf club.

A golf club. You know, Tiger Woods plays golf. This makes perfect sense! The Woods estate probably has golf clubs at the ready in lieu of fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, home security systems, and Band-Aids.

Just a few minutes ago, according to the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga, a spokeswoman for the Florida Highway Patrol said of Tiger Woods’ condition, “There were definite injuries. This was not a bump or a bruise.”

That’s an assessment that’s in stark contrast to what we’ve heard from Tiger’s camp, which has so far downplayed the severity of the injuries. In an incident that’s so far been shrouded in mystery, the contrasting reports only add to the intrigue. Why do Tiger’s people want to pretend that it was no big deal? Or, if it was no big deal, why do Florida officials keep stressing that he was in bad shape? It’s all pretty bizarre.

According to Breaking News’ Twitter feed, “Health Central hospital tells BNO News that Tiger Woods has been released from hospital.” It’s been confirmed by the town mayor, who told CNN that Tiger’s been released from the hospital. Between the reports of “facial lacerations,” his agent’s assurances that he’s “fine,” and now this, what seems like a fairly quick release from the hospital, it seems that the initial reports of “serious” injuries may have been exaggerated. Details are still sketchy, but if he’s out of the hospital this soon, that certainly bodes well for his longterm prognosis.

According to CNBC's Darren Rovell, Tiger Woods' agent Mark Steinberg confirmed that his client is "fine."

It's a brief report, obviously, but notable as it contradicts other reports of "serious condition" and "serious injuries" that have been emerging over the past hour or two. Hopefully the rest of us have been overreacting.

When you hear the words “2:30 am” and “car accident” and “charges” in the same story, it’s easy to jump to conclusions and assume that alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident. But not so fast…

According to another Florida news outlet, NBC’s WESH, the Florida Highway Patrol does NOT suspect alcohol in this case. Charges are still pending, and the crash is under investigation, but for right now, alcohol has apparently been ruled out.

Additionally, the report cited a source that said Woods is currently being treated for facial lacerations, possibly among other injuries. We’ll have more as it emerges.