CNBC’s Darren Rovell received an email from Tiger Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg today indicating that Woods does not plan to initiate talks with the police at all.
“We have been informed by the Florida Highway Patrol that further discussion with them is both voluntary and optional,” Mark Steinberg, senior vice president and global managing director of golf for IMG, told CNBC.
“Although Tiger realizes that there is a great deal of public curiosity, it has been conveyed to FHP that he simply has nothing more to add and wishes to protect the privacy of his family.”
Woods’ biggest sponsor, Nike, also has issued a statement on Woods - via Rovell.
“Tiger and his family have Nike’s full support,” the statement said. “We respect Tiger’s request for privacy and our thoughts are with Tiger and his family at this time.”
Theories abound on why Woods is refusing to meet with police. Among them, he is protecting his wife from possible assault charges if his injuries do not look consistent with a car accident. TMZ.com reports that Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren scratched his face before the accident, with her behavior in response to a NATIONAL ENQUIRER report that Woods was having an affair with Rachel Uchitel.
While Woods says, through his agent, that he has “nothing more to add” to police about the incident, obviously the Florida Highway Patrol has plenty of questions for him.
TMZ.com reported Florida law enforcement officials familiar with the case do suspect there was a “domestic issue” between Woods and Nordegren before the car accident, but the FHP has previously stated it would only investigate the matter as a vehicle mishap. If that indeed is the case, and there was no alcohol involved, Woods may not have to talk to the police again.
6:54 pm on November 29th, 2009
Let the Nike and Woods boycotts begin.
7:19 pm on November 29th, 2009
hes rich and the same rules dont apply to them. was he drunk? was it a domestic situation? what was his b.a.c.? can i decide when to talk to the cops? whats he hiding? nike needs to cut ties its too fishy, they are guilty of a crime ia m sure. this will hurt his carreer
7:43 pm on November 29th, 2009
He doesnt have to talk to the cops in this situation, just like the average joe. The cops wouldnt want to talk to the average joe, but they want to talk to him, based on who he is. I wouldnt talk to the pigs either. He has no obligation to talk to them.
7:44 pm on November 29th, 2009
Good for you, Tiger! So you wisely chose not to take what is basically a private matter to the circus? No one was injured. He was not required by Florida law to make any statements to the highway patrol. And whatever ancillary problems there are, if any, are simply not matters to be paraded about in a circus. Again, good for you, Tiger! All the best. Time to move on.
9:03 pm on November 29th, 2009
Surely, Tiger is shopping for some Kobe carats to calm the wife, who apparently is also a tiger.
9:19 pm on November 29th, 2009
that muthafukkkah tiger is fulla shyttt. his missus came out to jack him up and clobbered the car as he was driving away. tiger, being the stupid ass and lousy driver he is, lost control and wiped me out. how come no one feels for me??! tiger is lying up a storm and ain’t fooling no one.
9:45 pm on November 29th, 2009
Tiger is trying the ol’ “keeping my life private” routine. lol! If he was as innocent and squeaky clean in this matter, as he would like us to believe, he would be voicing it very loudly and strongly. He can’t! Not without risking hanging himself out to dry. What a stupid dope.
Elin and his kids are what it’s all about, not getting all frisky and stupid with some side whore that came onto him. Hooray for Elin! She rocks!
12:58 am on November 30th, 2009
Tiger didnot hurt anyone but himself in the accident.
He is an honourable man to protect his wife from prosecution. Everybody wants to talk to and talk about Tiger .He will come out stronger from this accident.
Big companies like Nike , Accenture , and America love guy with high testerone level with integrity
3:42 am on November 30th, 2009
It is nobody’s business where Tiger was going at 2:30am in the morning. Obviously he was going somewhere, but where the somewhere was has no bearing on the accident. And so what if he was covering up for Elin if Elin was actually trying to bust the car window out of some kind of domestics. I would do the same thing. If Elin wants to spill the beans then she will. I wouldn’t rat on my wife, although a lot of times this would be a good idea.
10:54 am on November 30th, 2009
Ummm. This has the making of one of the most expensive divorces in history I would think.
1:41 pm on November 30th, 2009
He’ll pay for the hydrant, suv repairs, Kick all the A__ at his tournment this week and move on. Leaving all you BIGOTS still being BIGOTS. He allows you haters to be motivators. GOD BLESS AMERICA/ TIGER WOODS, AN AMERICAN ICON. I LOVE IT
2:08 pm on November 30th, 2009
This is really Tiger Woods’ and his family’s issue and nobody else. However, the only thing that is a realistic fact - is that if it was any ordinary citizen: (1) he would have been tested on the spot or at hospital for DUI and blood, and (2) if he had denied to meet with police for 3 days - he would be taken away in handcuffs. Simply put: If one is a celebrity and has enough $$, they can skim through w/o having to act or be responsible as any other citizen would be required to do.
2:16 pm on November 30th, 2009
In my opinion, it is neither the police or public opinion as to being concerned of where he was going at 0225 hrs AM. I believe under the Fifth & fourteenth amendment he has the right to privacy. Now, the investigation should be restricted as to how much damage was caused and of course Tiger should be responsible for that. But, delving into his private life should be of no concern to the public. Of course the media is anxious to air anything including garbage as long as it increases their ratings.
I’m glad that Tiger has avoided an investigation. Big Brother is taking over this country on a daily basis.
1:38 am on December 1st, 2009
If Tiger and Elin had a domestic dispute, then so what? If that dispute was the leading factor to the accident, then it should be investigated. If Elin took a club to Tiger’s body and face, and then to the vehicle, then she should be sent to jail just like any other domestic abuser. I believe that the fight is private as long as it does not interfere with the neighborhood, or involve local law enforcement and emergency responders. Once that happens, then all parties involved need to face the long arm of the law - no matter your social standing in the commnity and sports world.
10:11 am on December 1st, 2009
THEY (THE MEDIA) AND EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD JUST SHUT UP. IT’ TIGERS BUSINESS AND NO ONE ELSES.
1:29 pm on December 3rd, 2009
Nice role model Tiger. I’m sure your kids are proud of the man you are!