Tiger Woods has canceled a news conference for the Tiger Woods Foundation and has dropped out of the Chevron World Challenge in the wake of last Friday’s (November 27th) mysterious car crash. Woods addressed his impending absence on Monday (November 30th), writing on his website, “I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week. I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry I can’t be there.” The site said he can’t play “due to injuries sustained in a one-car accident.”Rachel Rees, public relations manager for The Tiger Woods Foundation, announced, “The press conference with Tiger Woods previously scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 1:45 p.m. has been canceled. We will provide you with any other press conference updates regarding the Chevron World Challenge field as they become available.”

FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: ‘CHARGES ARE PENDING’

On Monday, the Florida Highway Patrol released its first official statement about Woods’ accident, saying that the crash investigation continues — and “charges are pending.” FHP noted that it has been “unable to speak to Mr. Woods about the crash despite attempts to do so” but confirms that the golfer has provided the basic documentation required by law: his license, registration and insurance information. The brief release did not elaborate on the nature of “pending charges” — whether Woods and/or wife Elin Nordegren would be charged, and for what crime.

QUESTIONS SWIRL AROUND WOODS’ SUPPOSED MISTRESS

Meanwhile, talk on Monday turned to New York nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel, whose supposed affair with Woods reportedly sparked a heated fight between the golfer and his wife — which some believe to be responsible for Tiger’s accident and injuries.

Uchitel has denied such an affair, saying, “I did not have any involvement with him [Woods]. Whatever was written in the Enquirer was not said by me, it was said by two people that claimed they were friends of mine, but they’re not.” She added, “I am overwhelmed, so I hired Gloria Allred to handle the situation. I don’t want to get this much attention, and I wish everybody would leave me alone.”

• Despite her statement, sources told People magazine that Uchitel bragged not only of a fling with Woods, but with actor David Boreanaz and New York Yankee players Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. The source said, “She is a fun party girl; she was definitely into celebrities. She’s into being around famous people. Her job was to rack up VIP clientele. She is a flirtatious girl.”

EXPERTS OFFER PERSPECTIVE

CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin weighed in on Tiger’s unwillingness to talk to police, musing, “There is possibly something unpleasant and embarrassing that he doesn’t want to share with them, and he has that right. Based on what is publicly known, Woods has a public relations problem much more than a legal problem. He’s arguably the most famous athlete in the world, and his team’s overall strategy is a gamble that his general statement of responsibility won’t be overtaken by events or other disclosures.”

Florida lawyer Roy Black said, “Woods met Florida’s legal requirement by providing police with his driver’s license, car registration and proof of insurance, and is not obliged to volunteer medical records, video from home security cameras or anything else investigators might want. Any lawyer with a brain in their head is not going to allow him to talk to the police because nothing good can come of talking to the police.”

• However, Toobin expects we haven’t heard the last from Uchitel. He said, “The woman may go public to repeat what she’s said to the AP and publicly deny the affair, or perhaps to say that she was libeled by the Enquirer. Gloria Allred’s clients tend not to disappear from the news media.”

NIKE EXPRESSES SUPPORT

Nike, which reportedly pays Woods $40 million to endorse its products, said in a statement, “Tiger and his family have Nike’s full support. We respect Tiger’s request for privacy and our thoughts are with Tiger and his family at this time.”