THOUSAND OAKS, California // Tiger Woods withdrew from his own golf tournament yesterday, citing injuries from a car crash near his Florida home. He said he would not compete again until next year. Woods said in a statement on his Web site that his injuries prevented him from playing in the Chevron World Challenge, which he hosts annually for a small, invited field. "I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week," Woods said. "I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there." His decision to withdraw comes after a car crash left him with cuts and bruises when his SUV hit a fire hydrant and a tree on Friday outside his home in an exclusive, gated community near Orlando. Woods was treated and released from a hospital after the accident, and has not been seen in public since. By skipping the tournament, Woods will escape having to face TV cameras and a horde of media seeking more details about the smash up. The tournament was to be the last of the year for Woods anyway, but he did not say just when he would make his return next year. Woods released a statement on Sunday saying the accident was his fault, but he did not address any of the questions still swirling around it. He asked that it remain "a private matter", but with the Florida Highway Patrol still investigating and the media in full pursuit, Woods may not get his way. Woods hasn't answered questions from Florida troopers, either, turning them down three days in a row.
*AP
