Tiger Woods has pulled out of his own tournament this week due to the injuries he suffered in a car crash last Friday.

Tiger Woods has pulled out of his own tournament this week due to the injuries he suffered in a car crash last Friday.

Woods is tournament host for the Chevron World Challenge but released a statement on his website tonight to confirm he will miss the event in California.

"I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week," said Woods, who had been due to hold a press conference tomorrow.

"I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there."

Earlier in the day, Florida Highway Patrol had distanced themselves from reports that they are seeking search warrants for medical records relating to Woods' facial injuries.

Speculation continued as to the events that led to golf's world number one crashing his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant outside his Windermere, Florida, house and then a neighbour's tree, an accident in the early hours of Friday that led to Woods being treated in hospital for facial lacerations.

Woods issued a statement taking full responsibility for the accident but denied Florida Highway Patrol troopers an interview for the third day in a row and engaged high-profile Orlando defence attorney Mark NeJame to represent him as the crash investigation continued.

Today, reports surfaced that an FHP source had said the investigating officers were applying for a search warrant to obtain hospital records of Woods' treatment at Ocoee Hospital.

A police statement, however, dismissed the suggestion.

"As of November 30, 2009, the Florida Highway Patrol has been unable to speak to Mr Woods about the crash he was involved in on the morning of November 27, 2009, despite attempts to do so," the statement read.

"Mr Woods' representatives have provided us with his driver licence information, vehicle registration and current proof of insurance, as required by Florida Law.

"Contrary to various media reports, the Florida Highway Patrol has not made any comments regarding the details of the ongoing crash investigation involving Tiger Woods as it relates to medical information, or any other aspect of this investigation.

"The crash investigation is ongoing and charges are pending."

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell will replace Woods in the field.

McDowell's management team at Horizon Sports Management said: "We were in touch with the event organisers at the Tiger Woods Foundation yesterday while at Mission Hills during Graeme's final round at the World Cup with Irish team-mate Rory McIlroy.

"They informed us that there was a possibility that Tiger may withdraw and asked if Graeme would be prepared to potentially accept a late invitation should a spot in the field become available."

At 55th in the world McDowell suddenly has a chance to climb into the end-of-year top 50 and with it secure a place in next April's Masters at Augusta. This is the first year that the World Challenge has carried ranking points.

Vijay Singh is another withdrawal and he has been replaced by American Justin Leonard.