Tiger Woods apologizes for 'selfish behavior'
Golf superstar broke his silence on the sex scandal that surrounded him last year. Woods was very emotional on Friday when he apologized for his "irresponsible and selfish behavior". The 34-year-old broadcast live in every major network in United States confirmed he had been in rehab for 45 days where he was reportedly seeking treatment for sex addiction. Woods gave no idea as to when he might return to professional golf, but he only said that it might be one day, possibly this year. Over and over, he apologized to his family, friends and fans in his 13 minute address.
"I want to say to each of you simply and directly: I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in," Woods told a hand-picked audience of friends and journalists at the USPGA Tour Headquarters in Florida. "For all that I have done, I am so sorry. I have a lot to atone for."
Woods was also known for his clean image, but it was changed hugely after a mysterious late-night car crash outside his home in Florida was quickly pursued by a string of shocking revelations concerning his personal life. Names of women kept on coming in until it reached more than a dozen. Woods admitted his transgressions in his life which he had tried to keep it private but left with no other choice made it public until this week. Woods admittance was the biggest televised apology since Bill Clinton admitted an inappropriate relationship with Monica Lewinsky in 1998. It even affected the financial markets as Wall Street dealers stopped trading to watch television screens on the trading floor. "It’s hard to admit that I need help, but I do," Woods said. "For 45 days from the end of December to early February I was in in-patient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I’m facing," Woods said. "I have a long way to go. But I’ve taken my first steps in the right direction. The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated," Woods said.
"I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled.
Thanks to money and fame, I didn’t have far — I didn’t have to go far to find them. I was wrong, I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules," he added.
Woods took advantage of the occasion to halt reports that his wife Elin physically attacked him during the incident on November 27 which triggered the scandal. "Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night," Woods said. "It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night.
"There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame. Woods kept his fans guessing of his possible comeback, and this is what he has to say, "I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don’t know when that day will be," Woods said. "I don’t rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game."
"Finally, there are many people in this room and there are many people at home who believed in me. Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again. Thank you."
After making that final statement, Woods immediately stepped from the podium to hug his mother who is sitting in the front row, and after that he went backstage.
Reactions were mixed, some say the apology was genuine while other said it’s just arrogance. Some say it’s just media manipulation.
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