'I thought I could get away with it. I thought I was entitled. I was wrong,' says deeply sorry Tiger Woods

 

 

By Nicola Boden

Last updated at 6:52 PM on 19th February 2010

 

 

• Comments (131)
  
• Videos
  
• Add to My Stories
  

 

Tiger Woods today issued a grovelling public apology for repeatedly cheating on his wife and admitted: 'I have let you all down.'

In one of the most extraordinary mea culpas ever by a public figure, the top golfer begged for forgiveness as he pledged to start a new life of 'integrity'.

Speaking publicly for the first time since allegations of affairs with at least 12 women emerged, Woods admitted he had bitterly disappointed his family, friends and fans.

The 34-year-old said he had thought he could get away with anything and 'deserved to enjoy all the temptations' around him because of his huge success as a sportstar.

And he leapt to his wife Elin's defence, insisting she had never attacked him and should be praised for her 'grace and poise' over the last three months.

Scroll down to read the statement in full and watch video

 

Forgive me: Tiger Woods at the Sawgrass Golf Club in Florida today

 

 

 

 

Candid: Woods said: 'I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated'

 

'I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed I have put you in this position. For all I have done, I am so sorry. I have a lot to atone for,' he said.

In a brief break from his treatment for sex addiction, Woods gave a carefully stage-managed speech at the Sawgrass Golf Club, the home of the PGA Tour, in Florida.

 

The world's press had descended on the club, but only one camera and reporters from three agencies were allowed inside the building.

 

More...

 

 

• Tiger Woods' porn star mistress can't hold back the tears as she watches star's apology
  

 

The rest of the audience was made up of his family, friends and colleagues - but not his wife - while millions across the U.S. and the world watched the statement live.

 

On the front row was Woods' beloved mother Tida, who hugged and kissed him after his at times gut-wrenching, 13-and-a-half minute address.

Wearing a black jacket and open-neck shirt, the golfer battled to avoid crying as he admitted: 'I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated.'

 

Support: Woods' mother Tida gives him a hug after the statement

 

Emotional: Woods held back tears as he confessed to his infidelities

 

 

 

'I want to say to each of you simply and directly: I am deeply sorry for the irresponsible and selfish behaviour I engaged in.'

He described his actions as 'selfish' and 'foolish' as he cast off years of closely-guarded privacy to talk candidly about his personal life.

'People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and my children,' he said.

'I have let you down. I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behaviour has been a personal disappointment. For those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally.'

 

Carefully stage-managed: Woods spoke for more than 13 minutes

 

 

 

 

Sombre: Woods entering the room (L) and ® leaving, wiping tears from his eyes

 

 

 

Woods has been in hiding since November 27, after the mystery car crash outside his multi-million home in Florida in the middle of the night.

It was allegedly sparked by a fierce row with his wife Elin after she realised he had cheated on her.

'Poise and grace': Woods' wife: Elin Nordegren in Florida yesterday

 

There were sensational claims at the time that she chased after him with a golf club, prompting him to smash his Cadillac 4x4 into a tree and then a fire hydrant.

In the days and weeks that followed, he was linked to at least 12 women - including two porn stars.

But today, Woods vehemently denied his wife, a former Swedish model and nanny, had ever attacked him.

 

'Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever,' he said.

'Elin has shown immense grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise not blame. The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behaviour.

'I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable and I am the only person to blame. 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 did not apply.

'I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by - I thought I could get away with everything I wanted to.

'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 did not have to go far to find them.

'I was wrong, I was foolish, I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself, I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation and kids all around the world who admired me.'

 

Unfaithful: Tiger has been linked to 12 women since last November. They are: Top row, from left - Jaimee Grubbs, Holly Sampson, Jamie Jungers, Mindy Lawton. Middle row - Cori Rist, Kalika Moquin, Rachel Uchitel, Loredana Jolie. Bottom row - Theresa Rogers, Julie Postle, Joslyn James and a mystery 12th woman

 

He continued: 'I have had a lot of time to think about what I have done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It is now up to me to make amends and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I have made. It is up to me to start living a life of integrity.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

 

'I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.'

 

'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.

 

'I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled.'

 

'I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I'm making these remarks today.'

 

'Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.'

 

 

'Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count. Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them I am truly sorry.'

Of his efforts to repair his marriage, he said: 'As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behaviour over time. We have a lot to discuss.'

He did not give a date for when he might return to golf, although he said it could be sometime later this year.

 

'I do 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. When I do return, I need to make my behaviour more respectful of the game,' he said.

And he told how he had already spent 45 days in therapy as an inpatient 'for the issues I am facing'. He is due to return for more therapy for sex addiction tomorrow.

 

He said his Buddhist faith would help him to 'be a better man' and 'stop following every impulse and to learn restraint'.

'It's hard to admit that I need help, but I do.... I have a long way to go but I am taking my first steps in the right direction. I owe it to my family to become a better person - I owe it to those close to me to become a better man. That is what my focus will be. I have a lot of work to do and I intend to commit myself to doing it.'

He added: 'I need to regain my balance and be centred so that I can save the things that are the most important to me - my marriage and my children.'

 

Former porn star Joslyn James, who claims she had an affair with Woods, is hugged by her lawyer as she watches his public statement today

 

 

 

He refused to give details of how many times he was unfaithful or any details about his affairs, insisting this was between him and his wife.

And he begged for Elin and his children, a young son and daughter, to be left alone.

He also categorically denied using performance enhancing drugs, saying: 'This is completely and utterly false.'

Joslyn James weeps at her own press conference today

 

At the end of his prepared address, he spoke to all those who used to have faith in him and said: 'I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.'

But even as he was attempting to draw a line under the damaging episode that has cast a huge shadow over his career, one of his alleged mistresses porn star Joslyn James was giving her own press conference.

James, who claims she had a three-year fling with the golfer, weapt as she appeared at a radio station.

 

Woods announced in December that he was taking an indefinite break from the game after admitting 'indiscretions' in a statement on his website.

 

The revelations have already cost him lucrative sponsorship deals and has stretched his marriage to the limit.

 

Elin is now believed to have put a divorce on hold after he agreed to seek help for his sex addiction.

Today's conference was part of a careful attempt to rehabilitate Woods' image and reintroduce him to the sport.

Two sets of pictures of the star were released this week ahead of the appearance as he returns to the public eye.

 

The first, on Wednesday, showed him going for a job with his personal trainer.

 

And yesterday, he was seen getting back into the swing of things as he practiced near to his £1.7million home in Windermere, Florida.

 

He was shown wearing his sponsor Nike's jumper and a personalised Nike cap decorated with his TW logo.

 

The world is watching: TV crews outside Sawgrass Golf Club in Florida today

 

 

Strict: Despite the waiting crews, only one camera was allowed inside

 

His wife also seems to have been giving him her support after stepping out yesterday also in Nike clothing.

SPEECH BY NUMBERS

 

Below is a list of the most used words in Woods' address.

 

Elin - 10

Sorry - 3

 

Selfish - 2

 

Buddhism - 3

 

Children or kids - 9

 

Sponsors - 2

 

Infidelity - 0

 

Unfaithful - 2

 

Cheated - 1

 

Golf - 2

 

Behaviour - 9

 

Fans - 1

 

 

Nordegren wore a white bandana, grey top and black sweat pants all made by the label.

 

Even her training shoes were made by the sports giant who have a fiver year sponsorship deal with Woods said to be worth more than £30million.

 

She was, however, not wearing her wedding ring.

 

Today's statement sparked anger on the golf circuit, even before it was made, because it came in the middle of the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

 

Ernie Els said: 'It is selfish, and you can write that. I feel sorry for the sponsors. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Fridays. This takes a lot away from the golf tournament.'

Accenture was the first sponsor to drop Woods after the scandal, with some observers suggesting his move to hijack the competition could be his subtle from of revenge.

 

But according to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem explaining the date of the statement, there was little choice because of Woods' ongoing therapy.

Back in the swing: Tiger Woods playing a round of golf yesterday at a course near his £1.7million home in Windermere, Florida

 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, a friend of Woods, said he should say 'bye bye' to his marriage and be a 'wonderful playboy'.

 

The American businessman, who has been married three times, said: 'I have a whole question as to whether they should even get back together. It's so damaged and if the reports are just half true I would recommend Tiger just call it a bad experience, say bye-bye, go out and be a wonderful playboy and win tournaments and have a good life.

 

SPONSORS' REACTION

 

NIKE: Said it 'fully supports' Woods and his family. 'We look forward to him returning to golf.'

GILLETTE: 'His words stand on their own. We wish him and his family the best.'

 

EA SPORTS: 'We look forward to seeing Tiger back on the golf course when the time is right for him and his family.'

 

 

'I think the whole concept of them getting together is not in the best interest necessarily of either one. It's so badly damaged that every time they have a little argument she's going to look at him with blood pouring out of her eyes.

'I think the best thing he can do is go on his way, work hard on his game, win major championships and other championships and continue to be maybe the best golfer that ever lived.'

Trump added that Woods should have spoken out far earlier and attacked his management for today's carefully-staged affair.

 

'The most important thing Tiger can do is get back on the golf course and win. This whole thing with sex rehabilitation, I'm not sure I'm a believer..' he said.

'Tiger will never again make the kind of money he was making because these great companies are probably never coming back no matter what happens.

 

'Tiger will hopefully be the greatest golfer ever again. I think the main thing is that he plays great golf and wins major championships. If he does that then not all of it is going to be forgotten, but a lot of it will be.'

TIGER'S EXTRAORDINARY MEA CULPA IN FULL

 

Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me or you've worked with me or you've supported me.

Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behaviour I engaged in.

I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and to my children. And, while I have always tried to be a private person, there are some things I want to say.

Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behaviour. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behaviour over time. We have a lot to discuss; however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.

I am also aware of the pain my behaviour has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behaviour has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally. My behaviour has caused considerable worry to my business partners.

To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly, the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago, my dad and I envisioned helping young people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the Learning Center students in Southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington DC, millions of kids have changed their lives, and I am dedicated to making sure that continues.

But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position.

For all that I have done, I am so sorry.

I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. 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.

The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behaviour. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.

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 never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. 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 to go far to find them.

I was wrong. I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me.

I've had a lot of time to think about what I've done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It's now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I've made. It's up to me to start living a life of integrity.

I once heard, and I believe it's true, it's not what you achieve in life that matters; it's what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count.

Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It's hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I'm facing. I have a long way to go. But I've taken my first steps in the right direction.

As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me for the details and the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I'm concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.

Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.

I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors, my commercial endorsements. When my children were born, we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behaviour doesn't make it right for the media to follow my two and a half year old daughter to school and report the school's location. They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.

I recognise I have brought this on myself, and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That's where my focus will be.

I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don't realise it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practised my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught.

As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I've learned that's how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I'm making these remarks today.

In therapy I've learned the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping in balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centred so I can save the things that are most important to me, my marriage and my children.

That also means relying on others for help. I've learned to seek support from my peers in therapy, and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. I do 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. When I do return, I need to make my behaviour more respectful of the game. In recent weeks I have received many thousands of emails, letters and phone calls from people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me.

I want to thank the PGA Tour, Commissioner Finchem, and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course.

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.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1252326/Tiger-Woods-I-thought-I-away-I-wrong.html#ixzz0g0gPBbt1

If you had that much cash and fame you'd be boning all the hot chicks too.

I cant read all that but Ive seen the story on this mornings news 15 times so far.

If you had that much cash and fame you'd be boning all the hot chicks too.

 

As charming as that is, which ones are hot?

 

Especially as a lot of those photos are old file pictures, bleargh to em all.

Does anybody else not give a fuck, like at all, what Tiger Woods does in his spare time?

Does anybody else not give a fuck, like at all, what Tiger Woods does in his spare time?

 

No.

If you had that much cash and fame you'd be boning all the hot chicks too.

 

That would have been fine if he hadn't got married and then made millions from his supposedly "squeaky-clean", "perfect family man" image.:dozey:

Does anybody else not give a fuck, like at all, what Tiger Woods does in his spare time?

 

I want to not care, and if he was more like Dennis Rodman (god, does anyone here remember who that is?) this wouldn't have been a big deal. but it's like mark said, he sold himself as this clean living family man. Also, the fact that it was SO many skan.. uh, women, makes it a bigger deal. blech.

Does anybody else not give a fuck, like at all, what Tiger Woods does in his spare time?

 

No, and I'd vouch for most people in saying that nobody really gives a fuck about this story, but the media, and a lot of people who care too much about the media even if it's spouting irrelevant bile, they think that surely other people must care about this story.

 

Basically it's a bunch of people thinking that other people should care about this when nobody really does. Take this **** for example;

 

No.

 

A guy who doesn't care but still feels its news-worthy enough to post on this forum. Why? I have no idea.

 

 

 

A guy who doesn't care but still feels its news-worthy enough to post on this forum. Why? I have no idea.

 

Well you've really excelled yourself in terms of idiocy this time, as the "no" was in response to a post which said "does anybody else not give a f***?"

You really do need to read more carefully before you start spouting.:laugh3:

 

A lot of people care, because the guy's been exposed as a super-hypocrite.;)

As charming as that is, which ones are hot?

 

Especially as a lot of those photos are old file pictures, bleargh to em all.

tbh, I've never actually seen any of them.

 

*goz see*

 

Well there's 4 I'd bang anyway.

 

Does anybody else not give a fuck, like at all, what Tiger Woods does in his spare time?

*raises hand*

 

That would have been fine if he hadn't got married and then made millions from his supposedly "squeaky-clean", "perfect family man" image.:dozey:

Oh yeah, he made all his millions from his family man image. The whole best golfer in the world thing had nothing to do with it.

I wasn't even aware he was apparently a "family man"

Does anybody else not give a fuck, like at all, what Tiger Woods does in his spare time?

 

I just feel a little bad for him but I don't care much, no.

 

 

Oh yeah, he made all his millions from his family man image. The whole best golfer in the world thing had nothing to do with it.

 

It started that way, but in recent years he would have been making far more money from his multi-million-dollar endorsements, which were strongly linked to his "squeaky-clean" image.

Therefore it was all a sham, and now he's paying the price for deceiving the public (and his wife, of course).;)

Yes. The millions Nike paid him were definitely focused on the family image. The golfer thing was a side benefit. People wanted to use Tiger certified golf balls to show their family man status.

Yes. The millions Nike paid him were definitely focused on the family image. The golfer thing was a side benefit. People wanted to use Tiger certified golf balls to show their family man status.

 

Most (if not all) his sponsors only signed contracts with him because of his image, which is why they all distanced themselves once this story broke.;)

His reputation was extremely important to them.

Well DUH

It started that way, but in recent years he would have been making far more money from his multi-million-dollar endorsements, which were strongly linked to his "squeaky-clean" image.

Therefore it was all a sham, and now he's paying the price for deceiving the public (and his wife, of course).;)

 

I was surprised when I thought I had read you didn't care about this story, it wouldn't be like you to miss a chance to vilify a millionaire who's life just fell apart. Why are you so bitter?

I was surprised when I thought I had read you didn't care about this story

 

I wasn't surprised that you made such a schoolboy error.:rolleyes:

Yes you already pointed out my mistake, well done.

 

What exactly did you expect Tiger to do, in terms of his sponsors? Drop them?

 

Whether or not he should have cheated in the first place doesn't matter, that's his personal life, but he had already built up these sponsors from genuinely being that 'squeaky-clean' image that he apparently portrayed.

 

But to go into that, how exactly did he 'deceive' anyone? Did he go around saying "I'm a great family man and a great father I don't fuck ex-pornstars!". No, he didn't. He just went about his life, and how his sponsors or the public perceive him is up to them.

 

From the many advertising campaigns we've all seen Woods in, I don't re-call ever seeing him making millions from standing beside his wife or his kids in an advert, it was always to do primarily with golf. The reason his sponsors are pulling out is because now when the target market see Tiger Woods promoting Mach 3, they're going to think of a man cheating on his wife more then the razor. Yeah, they'll visualise balls and stuff.

 

Anyway, as I was saying, Tiger had built these sponsors for years, it's well documented that the death of his father lead to him going totally off the rails as he had his main guidance and stability in life taken from him (Sympathy from Mark? MAJOR LULZ). So then he does start cheating, of course he never wanted to get caught, even though he was always going to be, is he supposed to go to his sponsors and drop his multi-million dollar deals for no reason? Or did you expect him to carry on his secret affairs in public?

^Seems like someone's been taken in by his well-oiled PR machine......................... :rolleyes:

Just tell me, how did he use his family to deceive anyone?

He deceived his family through his sordid actions and deceived the public by continually putting across - either explicitly or implicitly - a wholesome family image, which turned out to be completely fake.:rolleyes:

BOOBIES

 

sorry, it's just a consistent fact of those 11 pictured.

Well Tiger certainly boobed big-time!:lol:

 

BOOBIES

 

sorry, it's just a consistent fact of those 11 pictured.