Woods quickly issued a statement saying that he was embarrassed, that the “false, unfounded and malicious rumors” surrounding the incident are irresponsible, and that everyone should respect his privacy. But he repeatedly canceled interviews with the police, and he has refused to speak with the media.

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows defendants to decline to speak with authorities in order to avoid self-incrimination. Any good defense attorney will advise against a police interview it provides opportunities to quibble over holes, misstatements and inconsistencies in one’s story. So Woods was on solid legal ground as police continued their investigation.

But the court of public opinion differs from the court of justice. Whether you’re a famous golfer or a business owner facing hostile scrutiny, speculation flourishes when facts are in short supply. A wise public relations counselor knows that the subject of a news event has only a limited time in which to exert some control over the discussion. After that, the vacuum is filled with conjecture and innuendo – particularly in a media culture obsessed with celebrity and scandal. The National Enquirer and another publication had previously reported that Woods had been having an affair with a New York model and nightclub hostess.

And a few days after the crash, gossip site TMZ.com said Woods told a “non-law enforcement type” that the official story about the crash was wrong. According to “a source,” TMZ claimed, Woods’ wife had confronted Woods about reports that he was seeing another woman, scratched his face, and chased the car as he fled, smashing the windows.

”We’re also told,” TMZ said in breathless tabloid style, “Woods had said during the conversation Friday he had been taking prescription pain medication for an injury, which could explain why he seemed somewhat out of it at the scene.”

How much of that (possible domestic violence, possible impaired driving) is actually true is almost irrelevant in PR terms. The damage has been done. It might not be enough to hurt him in the long run, but it’s certainly provoking snickers for now.

When bad news erupts, New West advises clients to speak up immediately, state the obvious, indisputable facts, and say as much as you can in order to reduce the feeding frenzy.  Use your own social media tools to share your story. If the situation is complicated or involves third parties, then set a time and place when the media can expect an update.  That way the media aren’t forced to fall all over themselves to investigate, to land an “exclusive,” interviewing neighbors, friends, relatives, old girlfriends, high-school classmates, auto-shop repairmen, hairdressers, landscapers and the man on the street to uncover more dirt – whether relevant to the story or not.

Woods certainly has the right as a private individual to refuse to talk to the media, but as a major public figure is he doing the right thing for his image and reputation?

In the absence of a definitive explanation from Woods, questions will continue to swirl and Tiger Woods can expect to spend more time in the rough.