FHP Met With Tiger After All

Orlando's WESH 2, inspired by the chain email recently posted by the former Atlanta sports columnist the television station calls Furman "Busher," reports that Tiger Woods did in fact meet with Florida Highway Patrol officers four days after his accident and that he only had a "fat lip."

FHP spokeswoman Kim Montes said Woods met with troopers at an undisclosed location on Dec. 1 to deliver his ticket and see if Woods had any injuries that might not be consistent with his traffic accident.

Montes said troopers only noted "a fat lip" and no other facial injuries -- and no reason to believe he was the victim of domestic violence.

This would appear to refute a report first published by an Atlanta sportswriter indicating Woods had been struck with a golf club by his wife, Elin, and had a gash in his face that required him flying to Phoenix for plastic surgery. Woods agent has denied that account.

On the day Tiger Woods was issued and signed a traffic ticket for careless driving, the Florida Highway Patrol confirms two captains and a trooper met in person with Woods and his attorney Mark NeJame.

Montes said that meeting happened "in Orlando at an undisclosed location."

Mentioning that back in early December sure would have helped a lot of people, namely Tiger and maybe even Furman Bisher, who has turned all cranky about his newfound fame.

According to Montes, when Woods was presented with the $164 citation he was "polite," said "yes sir," made "no other small talk and signed the ticket." Montes told WESH 2 the troopers also were also looking for evidence of injuries not consistent with the traffic accident outside his Windermere home.

Again, why couldn't they have shared that at the time? It would have been to everyone's benefit.

Now, about that email posted by Mr. "Busher" for what he now says was for his friends only...

The Internet and entertainment TV shows have been buzzing with rumors that Elin Woods attacked Tiger Woods with a golf club. Longtime Atlanta sports editor Furman Busher posted what he called a "legitimate message" from a "trustworthy journalist" that details the alleged attack. The message claims Woods flew to Arizona for plastic surgery because Elin Woods "virtually" knocked out two teeth. (Read Busher's blog post)

But the FHP said the timing of the alleged surgery wouldn't have allowed Woods to be at the Dec. 1 meeting.

Okay, so naturally this revelation could have probably cleared up a lot from Tiger's perspective and provides example #459 why his handlers have absolutely butchered his reputation by not better refuting rumors.

Though I must say it's also curious that the FHP felt the need to speak to the email claims a month after they said they had nothing else to say. Here was their original statement:

This was a single vehicle crash, with a single occupant. Unfortunately, it is one of thousands that occur in our state each year. Mr. Woods has satisfied the requirements of Florida law by providing his driver license, registration and proof of insurance to us. With the issuance of the citation, the Florida Highway Patrol has completed its investigation into this matter.

The FHP is not pursing criminal charges in this matter, nor is there any testimony or other evidence to support additional charges of any kind. After reviewing the evidence available to us, and in consultation with the Office of State Attorney Lawson Lamar, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence available to issue a subpoena for additional medical information that may exist in this case. We cannot speak to the existence of any blood evidence, nor are there claims of domestic violence by any individual.

The Florida Highway Patrol will not conduct additional press conferences or interviews on this matter.

Turns out that last line wasn't true and we should have believed the literal interpretation of the initial statement that "Mr. Woods has satisfied the requirements of Florida law by providing his driver license, registration and proof of insurance to us."

Both Tiger and the FHP have taken huge public relations hits in the aftermath of the accident when such a simple sharing of basic information could have dramatically reshaped the story.

Hey, it's only credibility.