Golf: Lindsey Vonn backs Tiger Woods' claims of how he had his front tooth knocked out

World Cup ski champion Lindsey Vonn has backed her boyfriend Tiger Woods’ account of how he lost his front tooth.

Woods, who is set to return to action at next week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, reportedly had his front tooth knocked-out by a cameraman while watching Vonn win her record 63rd World Cup race on Monday.

The former world No 1 attending the competition in Italy was a surprise to Vonn, who posted on her Facebook account that she felt “terrible that his tooth got knocked out.”

"When he was in the finish area a cameraman accidentally knocked into him and took out his front tooth," Vonn added. "He was still in great spirits though and didn't complain once or ask for any special assistance or security. We were both just happy to share the moment together."

The American disguised himself in an attempt to avoid media attention, wearing a scarf with a skeleton pattern over the lower part of his face and sunglasses.

Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at Excel Sports Management, said that during a crush of photographers at the awards podium, "a media member with a shoulder-mounted video camera pushed and surged toward the stage, turned and hit Tiger Woods in the mouth. Woods' tooth was knocked out by the incident."

Conflicting reports

While Vonn backs up the 14-time major winner’s claims, race organisers have refused to accept that the media scrum took place.

"I was among those who escorted him (Woods) from the tent to the snowmobile and there was no such incident," Nicola Colli, the secretary general of the race organizing committee, said.

"When he arrived he asked for more security and we rounded up police to look after both him and Lindsey."