Woods pulls out of Chevron tournament

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US police have distanced themselves from reports they are seeking medical records relating to Tiger Woods, while the world number one has announced he will not play in this weekend's tournament.

Woods was expected to give a press conference tomorrow in the lead-up to the Chevron World Challenge, a restricted field event hosted he hosts and which is run for the benefit of the Tiger Woods Foundation charity.

He announced: 'I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week. I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there.'

Controversy continues to surround the circumstances of Woods' car crash on Friday night.

However, one rumour has been knocked on the head. The Florida Highway Patrol have distanced themselves from reports that they are seeking search warrants for medical records relating to facial injuries incurred by Woods.

Speculation continued as to the events that led to golf's world number one crashing his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant outside his Windemere, Florida, house and then a neighbour's tree, an accident in the early hours of Friday that led to Woods being treated in hospital for facial lacerations.

Woods issued a statement on his official website last night taking full responsibility for the one-car accident but denied Florida Highway Patrol troopers an interview for the third day in a row and engaged high-profile Orlando defence attorney Mark NeJame to represent him as the crash investigation continued.

Today, reports surfaced that an FHP source had said the investigating officers were applying for a search warrant to obtain hospital records of Woods' treatment at Ocoee Hospital.

A police statement, however, dismissed the suggestion.

'As of Nov. 30, 2009, the Florida Highway Patrol has been unable to speak to Mr Woods about the crash he was involved in on the morning of Nov. 27, 2009, despite attempts to do so,' the statement read.

'Mr Woods' representatives have provided us with his driver licence information, vehicle registration and current proof of insurance, as required by Florida Law.

'Contrary to various media reports, the Florida Highway Patrol has not made any comments regarding the details of the ongoing crash investigation involving Tiger Woods as it relates to medical information, or any other aspect of this investigation.

'The crash investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.'

Woods, meanwhile, was due to travel to his native California ahead of this week's Chevron World Challenge tournament, an annual event he hosts to benefit his Tiger Woods Foundation at Sherwood Country Club near Los Angeles.

As a host and competitor of the tournament he has won four times, the world number one is scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow but his appearance in either role has not been confirmed.