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Tiger Woods apologizes, admits he cheated and says he is undergoing therapy
Tiger Woods made a subdued but at times emotional return to public view Friday morning, apologizing profusely for his marital infidelity, chastising the media for intruding upon his family's personal life, acknowledging having undergone rehabilitation to address his behavior and vowing to return to professional golf, perhaps this year.
In a 13 1/2 -minute statement, televised around the world and attended by a small contingent of family members and selected friends -- plus three wire service reporters who were not permitted to ask questions -- Woods began by saying he is "deeply sorry" for his "irresponsible and selfish behavior," and ended by asking his fans to help him through his ordeal and to "find it in your hearts to believe in me again."
In between, he apologized repeatedly to specific people and groups -- his family, his friends, his sponsors, his staff members and his fans. Pausing frequently, occasionally looking directly in the eyes of those present and lingering over his many glances to the television camera, he made for the first time specific mention of his misdeeds.
"I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated," Woods said. "What I did was not acceptable."
Speaking in the clubhouse of the golf course at the PGA Tour's headquarters, Woods wore a navy blue blazer, gray slacks and a light blue shirt with no tie. As he spoke, he gripped the lectern with both hands, looking down frequently at his notes.
An Associated Press reporter in attendance confirmed that Woods's wife, Elin, was not present. Woods's mother, Kultida, was seated in the front row, and Woods gave her a long hug after stepping down from the podium following his remarks.
Woods made several references to his wife, shooting down rampant speculation that she had attacked him during the early-morning hours of Nov. 27, when police were summoned to the Woods's family home outside Orlando after Woods wrecked his SUV. He praised his wife repeatedly and said they are working to save their marriage.
"Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal," he said. Following a long pause, he added, "Elin deserves praise, not blame." Of repairing his marriage, he said: "My real apology to her won't come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time."
Woods kept many things private, revealing few or no details about the Nov. 27 incident, the exact nature of his rehabilitation and therapy and the number of affairs he has had. Of his golf future, he said only: "I plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year."
However, Woods did reveal that he will leave Saturday for "more treatment and more therapy." Numerous news reports have said he has been attending a Mississippi clinic that treats sexual addiction.
"My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before," he said.
Woods also denied accusations he had used performance-enhancing drugs, which arose following the drug-related arrest of a Canadian doctor who had treated Woods's knee injury.
With media access limited to three wire service reporters, several hundred media members gathered in a ballroom at a hotel about a half-mile from the location of Woods's statement to watch on television. The Golf Writers Association of America, which was invited to send several reporters, instead boycotted the event due to the ground rules imposed by the Woods camp, which included a stipulation that no questions be asked.
Some of Woods's most visible displays of emotion came when he addressed the intense tabloid-driven coverage of his life, accusing the media of intruding upon his private life and stalking his wife and their two young children.
"For the sake of my family," he said, almost spitting the words, "please leave my wife and kids alone."
After stepping away from the lectern and hugging his mother and several others in the front row, Woods strode with his head down toward the blue curtains behind the stage, wiping his brow as he parted the curtains and disappeared through them.
Source: Washington post
In a 13 1/2 -minute statement, televised around the world and attended by a small contingent of family members and selected friends -- plus three wire service reporters who were not permitted to ask questions -- Woods began by saying he is "deeply sorry" for his "irresponsible and selfish behavior," and ended by asking his fans to help him through his ordeal and to "find it in your hearts to believe in me again."
In between, he apologized repeatedly to specific people and groups -- his family, his friends, his sponsors, his staff members and his fans. Pausing frequently, occasionally looking directly in the eyes of those present and lingering over his many glances to the television camera, he made for the first time specific mention of his misdeeds.
"I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated," Woods said. "What I did was not acceptable."
Speaking in the clubhouse of the golf course at the PGA Tour's headquarters, Woods wore a navy blue blazer, gray slacks and a light blue shirt with no tie. As he spoke, he gripped the lectern with both hands, looking down frequently at his notes.
An Associated Press reporter in attendance confirmed that Woods's wife, Elin, was not present. Woods's mother, Kultida, was seated in the front row, and Woods gave her a long hug after stepping down from the podium following his remarks.
Woods made several references to his wife, shooting down rampant speculation that she had attacked him during the early-morning hours of Nov. 27, when police were summoned to the Woods's family home outside Orlando after Woods wrecked his SUV. He praised his wife repeatedly and said they are working to save their marriage.
"Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal," he said. Following a long pause, he added, "Elin deserves praise, not blame." Of repairing his marriage, he said: "My real apology to her won't come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time."
Woods kept many things private, revealing few or no details about the Nov. 27 incident, the exact nature of his rehabilitation and therapy and the number of affairs he has had. Of his golf future, he said only: "I plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year."
However, Woods did reveal that he will leave Saturday for "more treatment and more therapy." Numerous news reports have said he has been attending a Mississippi clinic that treats sexual addiction.
"My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before," he said.
Woods also denied accusations he had used performance-enhancing drugs, which arose following the drug-related arrest of a Canadian doctor who had treated Woods's knee injury.
With media access limited to three wire service reporters, several hundred media members gathered in a ballroom at a hotel about a half-mile from the location of Woods's statement to watch on television. The Golf Writers Association of America, which was invited to send several reporters, instead boycotted the event due to the ground rules imposed by the Woods camp, which included a stipulation that no questions be asked.
Some of Woods's most visible displays of emotion came when he addressed the intense tabloid-driven coverage of his life, accusing the media of intruding upon his private life and stalking his wife and their two young children.
"For the sake of my family," he said, almost spitting the words, "please leave my wife and kids alone."
After stepping away from the lectern and hugging his mother and several others in the front row, Woods strode with his head down toward the blue curtains behind the stage, wiping his brow as he parted the curtains and disappeared through them.
Source: Washington post
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