PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.Speaking publicly for the first time since he ran his SUV over a fire hydrant outside his home on Nov. 27, Tiger Woods apologized before a small group of friends and a smaller group of media members in the Sunset Room at PGA headquarters.
“I want to say to you I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior,” Woods said. “I have let you down.”
Outside millions watched, listened, read on just about every media outlet imaginable.
Woods read from a prepared statement and kept his composure. He became very emphatic when he talked about the reported domestic violence between him and his wife Elin Nordegren.
“Elin never hit me that night or any other night,” Woods said raising his voice. “There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage. Elin never hit me that night or any other night.”
Woods left open his return to golf during the 13-minute speech, saying it might happen this year or it might not. He also scolded the media for their intrusion into his family’s personal life and unsubstantiated reports about his use of steroids.
“I was unfaithful, Woods said. “I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable.” Elin was not obviously present.
As for coming back to the PGA Tour, Woods said: “I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don’t know when that day will be. I don’t rule out it will be this year.”
Woods said he is solely responsible for his actions and was in treatment for 45 days. He said he will return for more therapy. He also insisted there were no instances of domestic abuse in his marriage.
Meanwhile, Woods will return to sex-addiction therapy.
The world’s most recognizable athlete addressed the shocking and sordid sex scandal that has consumed his life since late November. But, now he will return to the clinic where he has been undergoing therapy, according to a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem obtained by The Associated Press.
Finchem’s letter to the PGA Tour policy board and other officials explained why Woods chose Friday to make his first public comments.
“As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning,” Finchem said in the letter Thursday. “Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.”
The letter shed no light on whether Woods plans to return to the tour anytime soon.
Woods’ statement came during the Match Play Championship, sponsored by Accenture, the first company to drop Woods as a pitchman.
Ernie Els was among players who was upset to learn that Woods had chosen the week of a World Golf Championship for a public appearance that was sure to take attention away from the tournament. “It’s selfish,” Els told Golfweek magazine.
Finchem told reporters in Marana, Ariz., earlier this week that he didn’t think Woods’ appearance would undermine Accenture, and that Woods’ handlers “have their own reasons for their schedule.”
In the letter, he said the tour discussed the timing with Accenture and “they understand that the PGA Tour was not involved in determining the timing of the statement.” Finchem also noted that Woods’ comments would be over well before television coverage of the third round from Dove Mountain.
The PGA Tour made available its sprawling, Mediterranean-styled clubhouse for the announcement, and was helping set up adjacent ballrooms at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott for media, where they watched Woods on closed-circuit TV. Finchem said in the letter that Woods’ management asked for the facilities, and “we agreed as we would for any member of the PGA Tour.”
About 300 people registered as media at the site, and about 25 satellite trucks were parked outside. Television crews by the dozen were broadcasting from the scene.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services
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