WINDERMERE, Fla. — Tiger Woods finally gave his side of the story yesterday — on his Web site, not to police — and took the blame for an "embarrassing" car crash that gave him cuts, bruises and public scrutiny like never before.

His statement failed to clear up any questions about Friday's 2:25 a.m. accident outside his Isleworth estate in which his wife told police she used a golf club to smash the back windows of the Cadillac SUV to help him out.

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

The statement was posted around 2 p.m. yesterday, about an hour after Woods' attorney told the Florida Highway Patrol that for the third straight day golf's No. 1 player would be unavailable to talk to troopers.

Sgt. Kim Montes of FHP said troopers went to Woods' estate, only for attorney Mark NeJame to turn them away. The attorney gave troopers Woods' driver's license, registration and insurance as required by law for such accidents.

Woods said the crash was a private matter, and he intended to keep it that way.

"Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible," he said. "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."

Even with his first public comments on the accident, Woods left several questions.

• Where he was going at that time of the night?

• How did he lose control of his SUV at such a speed that the air bags didn't deploy?

• Why were both rear windows of the Cadillac Escalade smashed?

• If it was a careless mistake, why not speak to state troopers trying to wrap the investigation?