By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Tiger Woods will not play in this week's Chevron World Challenge, which he has hosted in Thousand Oaks, California, for the past nine years, because of injuries sustained in a car accident.

The American world number one, who has dominated news headlines since crashing his SUV outside his Florida home in the early hours of Friday morning, said he would not attend "due to injuries sustained" in the accident.

"I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week," Woods, 33, said in a statement on his official website (http://web.tigerwoods.com).

"I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there."

The $5.75 million event, which has been won four times by Woods, starts on Thursday with a strong field featuring 12 of the world's top 20 players.

Woods, whose California tournament raises money for his charitable foundation, added that he would not compete in any other tournaments this year and would return to action in 2010.

The greatest golfer of his generation and arguably the best of all time, Woods struck a fire hydrant and a tree outside his mansion in Windermere, Florida at about 2:25 a.m. EST on Friday.

He was subsequently released from hospital in good condition after being treated and said later he had some cuts and bruising and felt "pretty sore."

On Sunday, he took responsibility for the accident and praised his wife Elin for acting courageously to help him, but he again canceled an interview with authorities investigating the incident.

Woods, a winner of 14 majors title and 82 tournaments worldwide, said he wanted to keep the crash details private.

However, a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officer said charges were still pending.

(Editing by John Mehaffey)