The scandal engulfing Tiger Woods hit home on both coasts of the United States last night as fans stayed away in the world number one's absence from his own tournament in California, while Jesper Parnevik maintained his criticism in Florida.
Woods has endured a torrid week publicly which began when he crashed his car outside his Orlando home last Friday and needed hospital treatment for facial lacerations.
On Wednesday the 14-time major winner apologised on his official website for 'transgressions' and 'personal sins and failings', the same day an American tabloid published allegations of an affair between the married father-of-two and a Los Angeles cocktail waitress.
Two days earlier, citing injuries sustained in the one-car accident, the 33-year-old withdrew from the Chevron World Challenge event which started at Sherwood Country Club near Los Angeles yesterday and tournament officials announced advance ticket holders had the option to claim a refund.
Attendance figures reported in USA Today showed the offer was being taken up in considerable numbers as crowds fell for the opening day for the second year in a row.
When Woods won at Sherwood in 2007, 11,953 attended first round play but with the world number one injured following knee surgery in 2008, just 6,974 were present on the opening day of the 72-hole event.
Yesterday, reported the newspaper, that figure was down to 6,893 fans as Ian Poulter and Zach Johnson took a share of the first-round lead.
In Florida, meanwhile, Parnevik stood by his criticism of Woods and said he had 'lost all respect' for him.
The former European Ryder Cup star and his wife had introduced fellow Swede Elin Nordegren to her future husband, and the 44-year-old spoke out against Woods on Wednesday at the PGA Tour qualifying school in West Palm Beach.
He followed up with: 'I haven't really talked to Tiger yet so I don't want to say too much but my heart goes out to her.
'There's nothing I regret (saying) and I stand by everything. He's lost all my respect, I mean, all the respect I had for the guy is gone, that's pretty much all I can say.'
Parnevik added: 'I've tried to get through to him through his managers and secretaries but it's not easy - but it doesn't really matter, what's done is done.'
The Golf Channel also reported that Parnevik had said: 'Elin is having a very tough time.'
