Tiger Woods addresses rumours: “What I did was unacceptable”

February 19th, 2010

tiger

Tiger Woods finally faced the music today as he publicly admitted to cheating on his wife and delivered a long apology to his family and fans.

Appearing in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, before a small room of friends (including his mother, pictured above), Woods called his actions “selfish” and “foolish” and thanked those who had stood by him over the past few months. It was the first remarks by the golfer since news broke late last year that he had engaged in a number of affairs, news that came to light after Woods was involved in a car accident outside his Florida home.

The golfer read from a prepared statement and was at times emotional, but otherwise stoic and composed. “I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated,” he said. “What I did was not acceptable.”

“Many of you have cheered for me and worked with me and supported me,” he continued. “Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.”

While he didn’t go into specifics about his many reported affairs, Woods said he felt “entitled” due to his money and fame, and thought he deserved to enjoy “all the temptations” around him. He also admitted that he thought he could “get away with whatever I wanted to.”

Addressing speculation that his wife Elin had somehow attacked him, allegedly with a golf club, Woods was firm in his denial. “Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me and it angers me that people would fabricate a story like that,” he said. “There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage.”

The golfer did not address rumours of a pending divorce between the two, only saying that, “Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. My real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come in the form of my behavior over time.”

But he asked for privacy, saying “What we say to each other will stay between the two of us.”

Woods saved his strongest words for the paparazzi, who he accused of staking out his wife and kids outside their home, and following the kids to school. Looking into the camera, Woods delivered a stern warning, saying “Leave my wife and kids alone.”

This was one of the first times Woods has been seen in public in over two months. The golfer had reportedly been in rehab for sex addiction. Woods didn’t address those rumors, but did say that he was undergoing “in-patient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I am facing.”

He also said he was leaving for more treatment and therapy tomorrow.

Woods didn’t rule out a return to golf, but declined to set a time frame. He did say he could return as early as this year. At the end of his speech, he promised to start living a “life of integrity” and asked his family and fans to “one day believe in me again.” After a long and tearful hug with his mother – who was seated in the front row – Woods left the room without taking questions from reporters.

Tags: Tiger Woods