Vonn backs Tiger Woods' account of missing tooth

Lindsey Vonn of the US sprays champagne on the podium after winning the women's World Cup Super-G skiing race in Cortina D'Ampezzo January 19, 2015. Vonn became the most successful female in Alpine skiing World Cup history when she won a Super-G on Monday, her 63rd victory in the competition. [Photo/Agencies]

Woods first showed up in the athletes' area when Vonn's father, Alan Kildow, escorted him in shortly after Vonn took the lead. The golfer then surprised Vonn and gave the skier an emotional hug.

After about 10 to 15 minutes of standing near Vonn with her family, Woods was escorted into a white tent usually reserved for measuring skis. He stayed there for nearly an hour, while the last lower-ranked skiers came down and during the podium celebration.

After the podium celebration, Woods was escorted by police to a waiting snowmobile and taken away.

Race organizers told The Associated Press they were not aware of the incident and that Woods requested extra security and a snowmobile to exit the finish area.

"I was among those who escorted him from the tent to the snowmobile and there was no such incident," Nicola Colli, the secretary general of the race organizing committee, told The Associated Press. "When he arrived he asked for more security and we rounded up police to look after both him and Lindsey."

Woods had been wearing a scarf with a skeleton pattern over the lower part of his face, sunglasses and a stocking cap.

The photo was taken when the scarf was lowered.

Steinberg, through a spokesman, said there would be nothing to add Tuesday.

Woods makes his 2015 debut next week in Phoenix.