Tiger Woods takes blame for crash

Golfer takes blame for crash but hits out at rumours about him being a love cheat

Golferu00a0takes blame for crash but hits out at rumours about him being a love cheat

Golf superstar Tiger Woods broke his silence two days after crashing his car, saying the "embarrassing" accident was his fault and hitting out at "unfounded and malicious rumours."

In a statement posted on his website, Woods said he was solely responsible for the accident, which attracted worldwide attention and sparked speculation about his private life.

"This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me," Woods said. "I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again."

Still ducking troopers
But Woods again declined to speak to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, who had expected to talk with him yesterday afternoon as part of their investigation into the accident.

Officers, who were turned away on both Friday and Saturday, were to meet Woods at his home and discuss how his car came to hit a fire hydrant and then a tree near his two million-dollar home in the suburbs of Orlando, Florida.

Sergeant Kim Montes, a spokeswoman from the Florida Highway Patrol, said Woods' lawyer Mark Nejame informed the patrol that Woods would not be meeting with troopers yesterday afternoon.

Woods is not required by Florida law to make a statement to officers investigating a traffic accident.

Authorities have already said alcohol wasn't a factor in the crash.

Daniel Saylor, police chief of the Orlando suburb of Windermere, has said Woods' wife, Elin, used a golf club to smash out a rear window to help him get out of his Cadillac SUV when she heard the crash from inside their home at 2:25 am on Friday.

'Private matter'
Woods gave away few details, calling the incident a private matter. "Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible," he said.

"The only person responsible for the accident is me," Woods said. "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."

Some news reports said Woods and his wife fought overu00a0 his affair with a woman and that caused the accident.