A day after golf legend Tiger Woods wrecked his SUV under questionable circumstances, cops have twice gone to his Florida mansion looking for more answers — and were turned away twice.
Woods, 33, was knocked unconscious for six minutes in the bizarre car crash early Friday morning near his Orlando mansion and he had to be rescued by his golf-club-swinging model wife, police said.
Police weren’t elaborating on the cause of the crash today, but there have been reports that Woods’ wife, Swedish model Elin Nordegren attacked the star over rumors that he was having an affair and the crash happened as he tried to escape her fury.
Police today went to the home in an attempt to interview the couple, and for a second time were told they were “unavailable.” Police made theire first attempt Friday, and will try again tomorrow. The denial was made through Woods’ agent.
The Web site TMZ has reported that the crash followed a dispute between the golf star and his wife, Elin Nordegren, over rumors Tiger had been having an affair; and that no blood was found on the steering wheel of the vehicle. 911 tapes are expected to be released tomorrow.
Nordegren told authorities she heard the smash-up and ran out of their estate to help — using the club to bash open the rear window of his black Cadillac SUV and hauling him out of the vehicle, Windermere Police Chief Daniel Saylor said.
“She supposedly got him out and laid him on the ground,” Saylor said.
He said his officers found a bleeding Woods lying in the middle of the street with Nordegren hovering above him. He’d been out cold for about six minutes when authorities arrived, The Orlando Sentinel reported.
He had cuts on his lips and was bleeding from his mouth and nose, officials said.
Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn said Woods, 33, “was very dazed. He had hit his head.” Saylor said the superstar golfer was drifting in and out of consciousness.
“When he woke up, he tried to get up and lost consciousness,” Saylor said.
“He was mumbling, but didn’t say anything coherent.”
Meanwhile, his 29-year-old wife “was frantic, upset. It was her husband lying on the ground.”
Bruhn said cops gave Woods first aid until a fire-rescue crew arrived about 10 minutes later.
Woods was rushed to a hospital in “serious” condition — but had already been released by the time the Florida Highway Patrol reported the crash to the media 12 hours later.
In a statement on his Web site, TigerWoods.com, the links legend’s office downplayed the incident.
“Tiger Woods was in a minor car accident outside his home last night. He was admitted, treated and released today in good condition,” the Web site read. “We appreciate very much everyone’s thoughts and well wishes.”
TMZ.com, quoting a source, reported Woods claims his wife scratched his face during a heated argument about reports of him seeing another woman, and that when he stormed off, Nordegren followed with a golf club.
As he drove away, she supposedly struck the vehicle and he got distracted, ramming into a fire hydrant and tree, TMZ reported.
Saylor said the officers who responded to the scene were not told of any argument, and a Highway Patrol representative said “we don’t believe it’s a domestic issue.”
The National Enquirer reported earlier this week Woods had been stepping out on his blond beauty with an event planner named Rachel Uchitel.
The report said Woods and Uchitel had trysts in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Australia, and that they stayed in touch through constant texting — or, as an Uchitel friend told the tabloid, “sexting.”
Woods denied the allegations, as did Uchitel, who told The Post she was “very concerned” to hear about the smash-up.
“God forbid Tiger got into a car wreck because of this false report of him having an affair,” said Uchitel, who lost a fiancé in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
“Despite it being completely untrue, it still must have certainly caused some problems at home — if I was his wife, I probably would have killed him,” Uchitel said.
Nevertheless, she said, “this is nothing to do with me. We have never had an affair, and the claims we did are completely false. We have never had an affair, talked on the phone or sent any type of text, sexy or not.
“I’m really upset about it because I’m being portrayed as a home-wrecker, when it simply isn’t true.”
Yesterday’s drama unfolded shortly after 2 a.m., when Woods abruptly left his $2.4 million waterfront home in the gated Isleworth community and jumped into his Cadillac Escalade.
The “driver had just pulled out of the driveway at his residence . . . as [vehicle] began to drive on Deacon Circle, [vehicle] struck a fire hydrant. The front of [vehicle] then struck a tree,” the Highway Patrol report on the incident says.
The police report says no alcohol was involved in the accident, but charges were “pending.” It was unclear what the charges might be.
The airbags in the SUV had not deployed, a sign that Woods was driving under 33 mph at the time of the crash.
A Highway Patrol rep said investigators had not yet had a chance to speak to Woods, but when they do, “we will ask him everything.”
The Orlando Sentinel reported that troopers went to Woods’ home in a bid to interview him last night, but were turned away by his wife, who told them he was resting. They’re scheduled to return this morning. “People’s health comes first,” the Highway Patrol rep told the paper.
Sources said Woods was already back in his home by the time the Highway Patrol released news of the incident.
Reps for Woods declined to comment on the crash beyond the statement on his Web site.
The personal turmoil comes at the end of what had been a triumphant comeback year for the man considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time.
He had missed most of the 2008 season because of reconstructive knee surgery, and returned to win six tournaments this year — although he hasn’t won a major since the 2008 US Open. He’s next scheduled to play at a tournament in California next week.
He’s scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday for the event.
Woods and Nordegren have two kids — 2-year-old daughter Sam Alexis and 9-month-old son Charlie Axel.
Uchitel made headlines herself back in September 2001, when she was featured in a front-page Post photo with tears streaming down her face as she clutched a missing poster of her tragic fiancé, Andy O’Grady.
She found love again three years later and tied the knot before 270 wedding guests, but split from her hubby after only four months.
She made supermarket-tabloid headlines last year when she was named as the lover of married “Angel” star David Boreanaz.
Uchitel wouldn’t comment about Boreanaz, and said she hasn’t spoken to Woods since the scandal broke.
In September, Forbes magazine named Woods the first billionaire athlete, thanks to his combined hauls from the PGA golf tour and his numerous megabucks endorsement deals.
Source: Celebrity Mound RSS Feed
