Tiger Woods issues apology for infidelity

Sports

Tiger Woods issues apology for infidelity

Golfer Tiger Woods issues apology statement for infidelity, scandal from 2009.

Pro golfer Tiger Woods hugs and kisses his mother Kultida immediately after reading his emotional statement to family, friends and the media in which he apologized for his marital infidelity and causing those close to him pain. "I said 'I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you and I love you,'" Kultida Woods said.

One notable absence from Tiger's group of invited family and friends -- his wife, Elin.

Of his estranged wife, Woods said, "Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss."

Tiger Woods' mother Kutilda, along with assorted family, friends, colleagues and media, listens to his statement.

"For all that I have done, I am so sorry," Woods said. He did address constant media scrutiny of his family, however, stating that "Despite the damage I have done, I believe it is right to shield my family from public spotlight. They didn't do these things. I did."

Veronica Siwik-Daniels (left) who performed in porn under the name of Joslyn James and claims to have had a three-year romantic relationship with golfer Tiger Woods, and her attorney Gloria Allred, hold a press conference in Los Angeles in reaction to Woods' apology.

Siwik-Daniels (left) said she wants an apology for the unwanted attention the scandal has brought her.

"I really feel I deserve to look at [Woods] in person face to face in the eyes because I did not deserve this," Siwik-Daniels told reporters.

Veronica Siwik-Daniels (left), one of Woods' alleged mistresses and a former pornographic performer, watched the event with her attorney, Gloria Allred, in a Los Angeles radio studio.

Gloria Allred (right) has also represented another alleged Woods mistress, Rachel Uchitel.

"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 behavior more respectful of the game," Woods told the assembled group. The four-time Masters winner did not say if he would attempt to return in time for the 2010 annual tournament in Augusta, Ga., which takes place April 5-11.

Dozens of broadcast networks, cable news outlets and online streams carried his scripted statement live, allowing a global audience to see and hear from Woods for the first time since his public image went into free fall nearly three months ago. Covering Woods' appearance were networks as far-flung as the Golf Channel and business network CNBC (which had a digital countdown clock on the screen beforehand and dubbed Woods' remarks his "Media Culpa"). - AP

ABC's George Stephanopoulos called Woods' speech "one of the most remarkable public apologies ever by a public figure. He (Tiger) left nothing on the table," Stephanopoulos said. "This is a man who has thought a lot about what he did." Rick Cerrone, former New York Yankees public relations director, disagreed. "What I saw was arrogance. ... It was basically an infomercial," he said on CNN.

Woods' statement was broadcast worldwide. Here, a patron at the Road House Bar in Bangkok, Thailand, watches Tiger's speech.

Closer to home, a gathering in the press pavilion at the Accenture Match Play Championship golf tournament Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Marana, Ariz., listens to Woods speak. Accenture, once one of Woods' biggest sponsors, dropped the golfer once news of his infidelities surfaced.

" I recognize 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," Woods said.

Members of the media watch from a conference room at the Sawgrass Mariott hotel as golfer Tiger Woods delivers his statement. Friday's event was tightly controlled, with only a few journalists allowed to watch Woods live. The televised confession became a major television event with the networks breaking in to show it.

Fellow pro golfer Notah Begay III (left) greets Woods at the end of the event as Woods mother (second from right) looks on.

Members of the media set up at the Sawgrass Mariott hotel down the street from an entrance to the Sawgrass Players Club, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., where golfer Tiger Woods was to make a statement regarding his marital troubles and potentially address his future golf return at 11 a.m. EST.

Tiger Woods family released a family portrait shot Wednesday of Tiger Woods with his wife Elin and daughter Sam (left) and son Charlie Woods.

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Pro golfer Tiger Woods hugs and kisses his mother Kultida immediately after reading his emotional statement to family, friends and the media in which he apologized for his marital infidelity and causing those close to him pain. "I said 'I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you and I love you,'" Kultida Woods said.

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