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The zigging and the zagging of the Tiger Woods story is a great public example of the evolution of a story...and the misdirection that sources pass on.

A day ago the Highway Patrol reported that Woods was in an accident and had serious injuries.

Then, a few hours later, it was announced that he was released from the hospital after treatment for lacerations on his face.

Serious injuries? Uh, no. No other details.

Later last night, we learned that his wife busted out the back window of his SUV with a golf club and helped him out. 

Meanwhile, local police are taking their time talking to the involved parties. That, apparently, is happening today.

This morning, TMZ and the National Enquirer detail a different story,  involving an affair, an angry wife, lacerations caused by fingernails, and a golf club used on the SUV all right, but not to rescue Tiger.

Is any of that true? Don't know. The Highway Patrol say they don't believe that it's a domestic. But ever since the Edwards revelations, a lot people think the Enquirer is accurate. 

It is not unusual for a story to take twists and turns like this. Around here, law enforcement tends to release as little information as possible, perhaps because it does tend to change. (I'm thinking specifically of the Courtland Smith death, which occurred three months ago, was investigated by the SBI and now sits in the hands of the Randolph County DA.) 

These days, with 24/7 reporting, the public has gotten used to knowing what's happening when it's happening. Waiting for the slow process of law enforcement investigation -- especially in the Woods case when the investigation is not being treated as a high priority -- frustrates everyone. Frankly, the slow info release and drip, drip, drip of leaks  doesn't help the credibility of law enforcement, the media or the subjects involved.

As for Woods, it apparently going to be at least Sunday or Monday before we know more. Of course, that could change any minute.   

Update 1: Oh, the Woods aren't available today. Maybe tomorrow. Oh, and celebrity attorney Gloria Allred is representing the "other woman."

As you see, this is why these stories go on and on and the media gets it "wrong" because we print what we know when we know it. It's just that what we know changes.

Update 2: The NY Times reports what you might think everyone facing rumors and potentially bad news knows but rarely act on: According to experts who advise high-profile athletes and celebrities, every hour that passes without word from Woods may prove damaging to his image by allowing an online rumor mill to produce conjecture and opinion.

“I think the next 24 hours are critical that Tiger addresses this publicly,” Steve Rosner, the founder of 16W Marketing, who represented former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, said on Saturday. “I understand it’s a personal matter, but because of who he is in the sports world, not only domestically but worldwide, I think it would help for him to put in his own words what transpired.”

Update 3: The Huffington Post gives us a good, detailed timeline of the events.