Woods calls it a year
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Tiger Woods Foundation board met as it does every year at Sherwood Country Club. Merchandise was on sale just outside the clubhouse, with large photos of Woods hanging from brick walls.
Everything was in place at his year-end tournament — except for him.
Facing public scrutiny over a car crash that sent him to the hospital and raised questions, speculation and innuendo about how it happened, Woods withdrew from the Chevron World Challenge on Monday, citing injuries. His news conference for this afternoon was canceled.
The announcement was posted on his Web site as questions kept growing about Woods driving his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree at 2:25 a.m. Friday, questions that would have hounded him had he showed up at Sherwood.
Even as players in the 18-man field began to arrive — Graeme McDowell, a Ryder Cup player from Northern Ireland replaced Woods — it was clear Sherwood would be more quiet than ever, just like its host.
Asked to sum up the mood for the week, Padraig Harrington said, "I don't think anyone knows."
Woods said on his Web site that injuries — he did not give details — prevented him from playing.
"I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week," Woods said. "I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there."
By skipping the tournament, Woods will escape the TV cameras and a horde of media seeking more details about the smashup. The tournament was to be the last of the year for Woods anyway, and he did not say when or where he would make his return next year.
