Sports icon Tiger Woods broke his silence on Friday morning making a public statement, the first since allegations of his infidelity.
Apologizing to family, friends, and fans, Tiger Woods made attempts to begin the process of rebuilding his image in the public eye, speaking at the clubhouse at the TPC Sawgrass, which is home to the PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
“Today I want to ask for your help ... I ask for you to find room in your heart for one day ... to believe in me again.”
Woods cited his transgressions as a severe departure in recent years from his religion of Buddhism, which his mother instilled in him from childhood, and how Buddhism emphasizes “restraint.”
“I was raised a Buddhist… Buddhism teaches that a craving for things ... leads to a pointless search for things outside of myself… Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught.”
While the time frame of Tiger Woods returning to professional golf is still in question, Woods left the possibility open for a return sometime this year.
He said he would be returning to a treatment facility soon after the press conference.
Joined by his mother, Kutilda and several friends, Woods spoke for just under fifteen minutes. He denied allegations of physical abuse from his wife, Elin.
“Elin never hit me that night or any night ... there has never been an incident of domestic violence in our marriage ... ever.”
Despite the apology to wife and family, Elin Woods was noticeably absent from the press conference.
Woods, while not going into detail regarding his relationship with Elin, said his actions will be the source of his apology to his wife.
“My real apology will not come in the form of words, but my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss. What we say to each other will remain between the two of us,” said Woods.
Apologizing to family, friends, and fans, Tiger Woods made attempts to begin the process of rebuilding his image in the public eye, speaking at the clubhouse at the TPC Sawgrass, which is home to the PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
“Today I want to ask for your help ... I ask for you to find room in your heart for one day ... to believe in me again.”
Woods cited his transgressions as a severe departure in recent years from his religion of Buddhism, which his mother instilled in him from childhood, and how Buddhism emphasizes “restraint.”
“I was raised a Buddhist… Buddhism teaches that a craving for things ... leads to a pointless search for things outside of myself… Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught.”
While the time frame of Tiger Woods returning to professional golf is still in question, Woods left the possibility open for a return sometime this year.
He said he would be returning to a treatment facility soon after the press conference.
Joined by his mother, Kutilda and several friends, Woods spoke for just under fifteen minutes. He denied allegations of physical abuse from his wife, Elin.
“Elin never hit me that night or any night ... there has never been an incident of domestic violence in our marriage ... ever.”
Despite the apology to wife and family, Elin Woods was noticeably absent from the press conference.
Woods, while not going into detail regarding his relationship with Elin, said his actions will be the source of his apology to his wife.
“My real apology will not come in the form of words, but my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss. What we say to each other will remain between the two of us,” said Woods.
