Tiger Woods has issued his deepest apologies to his family for the "personal sins" that he has committed in the past week.

The world number one has admitted that he let his family down when involved in a one-car accident outside his home last week, when he drove his Cadillac into a fire hydrant and a tree.

Woods' wife Elin smashed the back window of the vehicle with a golf club to help him escape, although some reports have suggested that the injuries he gained were the result of a personal fight rather than the crash.

However, he has dismissed these rumours as "utterly false and malicious" and feels he should be allowed put right his private matters out of the public eye.

A statement on his official website read: "I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behaviour my family deserves.

"I am dealing with my behaviour and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions."

Woods also remarked that he would be taking a small break from the golf course until 2010, where he will be looking to build on his 71 career PGA Tour wins.

This puts him third on the all-time list – two behind Jack Nicklaus and 11 adrift of Sam Snead.