Woods withdraws from tournament

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Tiger Woods still isn’t talking. Now he’s not playing, either.

Woods withdrew Monday from his own golf tournament, citing injuries from a car crash near his Florida home. His decision comes as questions continue to mount regarding what happened in the wee hours of the morning last Friday — questions that most certainly would have been asked of him had he played.

The world’s No. 1 golfer posted a statement on his Web site saying that unspecified injuries prevented him from playing in the Chevron World Challenge. He had been scheduled to hold a press conference today for the tournament, 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.”

Tournament officials said fans who bought advance tickets with the hope of seeing Woods could get refunds beginning next week. Those who keep their tickets will get a 20 percent discount when they buy them next year.

Woods sustained cuts and bruises when he crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree at 2:25 a.m., outside his home in an exclusive, gated community near Orlando. He was treated and released from a hospital, and hasn’t 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 smashup. The tournament was to be the last of the year for Woods anyway, and he did not say when or where he would make his return next year.

The first tournament of the 2010 PGA Tour is the SBS Championship in Hawaii, an event for winners from the previous year, beginning Jan. 7, but Woods wasn’t expected to be there. He’s more likely to play at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif., the week of Jan. 25.

Woods released a statement Sunday saying the accident was his fault and 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, turning them down three days in a row when they came to his house.

Four cars were parked in Woods’ driveway Monday, but no lights appeared to be on inside.