SCOTTSDALE, UNITED STATES - Australian golfer Robert Allenby stood by his story of being abducted, beaten and robbed in Hawaii two weeks ago in comments Tuesday ahead of his return at the PGA Phoenix Open.
Robert Allenby of Australia speaks with the media during a practice round prior to the start of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Jan 27, 2015.
The 43-year-old from Melbourne, who suffered cuts and bruises on his face from the incident, says he has no memory of more than two hours after being out at a wine bar on January 16 and police are investigating the matter as a robbery.
"From 11:06 to 1:27 in the morning is a complete blank," Allenby said.
Reports in a Hawaii newspaper and the Golf Channel say Allenby was at a strip club but the Aussie said he has "no memory of that".
"My story stays exactly the same as the way I told it," Allenby said. "I told you what I knew and I told you what someone told me. That's the bottom line. I never lied to anyone."
Asked if he might have drunk too much and thereby forgotton his actions, Allenby responded, "There's no way in the world what I drank could do what was done to me -- not a chance in the world."
Allenby said that last week, when he skipped an event in California, was difficult as he recovered from the injuries and making a return this week at an event known for boisterous crowds would be tough as well.
"It wasn't an easy decision to come to this tournament but I need to get my life on track, Allenby said. "Why should I let controversy keep me from something I love?"
Allenby said he hoped for more details in the police probe to be uncovered this week.
"The detectives are doing the best job possible and hopefully they will get to the bottom of it," Allenby said.