Golf
Medics feared wife hurt Tiger
2010-03-13 14:31
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Orlando - Ambulance workers kept the wife of Tiger Woods from riding with the injured golf star after his November 27 crash over concerns of domestic violence, police records released on Friday showed.
Florida Highway Patrol records released to the Orlando Sentinel unveiled the details of what happened on the night the Woods sex scandal erupted, including the fact Elin Woods told police her husband had taken two medications.
The crash led to revelations of adultery by the 14-time major champion, whose indefinite break from golf will continue through at least next week with Friday's announcement that he will not be at the PGA Transitions Championship.
Authorities appeared to suspect Woods was driving under the influence of prescription drugs when his vehicle struck two curbs, a row of shrubs, a hydrant and a tree on November 27, leading to him being taken to a hospital.
Elin Woods gave troopers two pill bottles, saying her husband had taken the medications before the accident, according to the records. One of the drugs was Vicodin.
Police saw no blood on Woods's face or clothing but noted a cut on his lower lip that had left his upper lip and teeth bloody. Elin Woods had no scratches or bruises.
The reports showed that Elin Woods tried to accompany her husband to the hospital but the ambulance crew would not allow her entry, concerned the early morning incident was a case of domestic violence, according to the newspaper.
The reasoning behind that decision was unclear from the reports, with law enforcement officers saying no one at the scene indicated the couple had been fighting.
Woods has denied that his wife ever struck him. The couple said she used a golf club to break windows on the vehicle so she could pull her husband out after the crash. The club was found near the driver's door.
Woods was ticketed by the Florida Highway Patrol and paid $164 for a careless driving violation, although the accident led to revelations of adultery that have cost Woods millions of dollars in endorsement deals.
Woods has taken an indefinite break from golf while trying to sort out his personal life but has started working with coach Hank Haney and practicing again, leading to speculation he will play at next month's Masters tournament.
On Friday, the field for next week's $5.4 million PGA Tour Transitions Championship was announced and Woods was not among those who have confirmed their place in the field.
There has been speculation Woods might play in two weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The deadline for entering that event is next Friday.
Florida Highway Patrol records released to the newspaper on Friday also revealed that investigators tried to obtain the golfer's medical records from HealthCentral hospital in Ocoee to see whether or not Woods was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
But a nurse told patrolmen the records office was closed and they would have to return on Monday.
"The director of medical records at first stated their computer system was not working, then she stated that they would not provide that information without a warrant on (Woods) regarding whether or not medical blood had been drawn," according to a report from patrolman Thomas DeWitt.
No warrant was ever issued, with the state's attorney's office ruling there was insufficient evidence of a crime to justify one.