Tiger Woods said Sunday he blames himself for the car crash that landed him in hospital and that his wife acted \Tiger Woods said Sunday he blames himself for the car crash that landed him in hospital and that his wife acted "courageously." (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Tiger Woods says the car crash that sent him to the hospital is his fault and has become embarrassing to him and his family, but he plans to keep it a private matter.

He also cancelled a meeting with state troopers Sunday.

Sgt. Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol said Woods's lawyer, Mark Nejame, informed the patrol that Woods would not be meeting with troopers Sunday afternoon.

Tiger Woods's statement:

As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore.

This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again.

This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumours that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.

The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.

This incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me. I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received. But, I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.

"It has not been rescheduled," Montes said.

Police first tried to interview Woods on Friday, only for his wife to ask if they could return the next day because he was sleeping.

In a statement posted Sunday on his website about an hour before he was to meet with highway patrol officers, Woods says his wife, Elin, acted "courageously" when she saw that he was hurt. He says any other assertion is "absolutely false."

The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York night club 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.

Woods says he understands the public's curiosity about the accident, but says "malicious" rumours circulating about him and his family are irresponsible.

The world's No. 1 golfer says he has cuts and bruising and is "pretty sore."

In a tape of a 911 call released Sunday, two days after the accident, a neighbour told dispatchers that a black Cadillac Escalade hit a tree and "I have someone down in front of my house."

Woods's neighbour never mentions the golfer by name, and the call is inaudible at several points because of the bad connection.

"I came out here just to see what was going on," the neighbour, who was not identified, told dispatchers. "I see him, and he's laying down."

One woman is heard in the background yelling, "What happened?"

Los Angeles lawyer Gloria Allred confirmed she was representing Uchitel when she was reached by the AP on Sunday.

Uchitel arrived at Los Angeles International Airport late Sunday morning, where she was met by Allred.

Uchitel did not speak to reporters except to ask that she be left alone.