Agent asked troopers to wait to talk to Woods

WINDERMERE, Fla. - The mystery over Tiger Woods' car crash intensified yesterday when his agent called state troopers on their way to Woods' house and asked them to wait another day before speaking to him.

It was the second straight day Woods was unavailable to talk. His wife told troopers Friday afternoon, after the world's No. 1 golfer had been treated at a hospital, that he was sleeping and asked that they return yesterday.

Woods was injured when his Cadillac SUV struck a fire hydrant and a tree just beyond his driveway at 2:25 a.m. Friday. Police said his lips were cut and blood was in his mouth. Police Chief Daniel Saylor said Woods' wife, Elin, had smashed the back window with a golf club to help get him out.

Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said troopers were en route to Woods' $2.4 million mansion in the gated community of Isleworth when agent Mark Steinberg called and was put through to the troopers, telling them Woods and his wife were unavailable.

Woods is not required by law to speak to the highway patrol because the incident is being investigated as a traffic accident, Montes said.

Montes said troopers inside the gates "are looking for other things for their investigation," and for now, that pertains only to a traffic accident.

She said Woods was not required to give a statement, only his driver's license, insurance, and registration.

The 911 tapes of the crash could be released today, Montes said. Still unknown is where Woods was going in the wee hours of the morning. The police report said alcohol was not a factor.

Woods is to host the Chevron World Challenge next week in Thousand Oaks, Calif., to benefit his foundation.

"We do not know if Tiger is playing; we are anticipating a great week of competition," said Greg McLaughlin, the tournament director and president of his foundation.

The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York nightclub hostess and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters.

The woman, Rachel Uchitel, denied having an affair with Woods.

"I resent my reputation is getting completely blasted in the media," she said during a telephone interview Friday. "Everyone is assuming I came out and said this. This is not a story I have anything to do with."