Emotional Woods apologizes for 'selfish' behavior

An emotional Tiger Woods apologized for his "irresponsible and selfish behavior" Friday as the golf superstar broke his silence on the sex scandal that engulfed him last year.

In a brutally honest self-assessment which was broadcast live across every major network in the United States, the 34-year-old confirmed he had been in rehab for 45 days where he was reportedly seeking treatment for sex addiction.

Repeatedly apologizing to family, friends and fans, Woods gave no clue as to when he might return to professional golf, saying only that it would be "one day" and that it might possibly be this year.

"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.

"For all that I have done, I am so sorry. I have a lot to atone for."

Woods squeaky clean image was left in tatters last year after a mysterious late-night car crash outside his home in Florida was followed by a string of lurid revelations about his personal life.
More than a dozen women were linked to the billionaire sports star in the weeks following the car crash. Woods later admitted "transgressions" in his private life and had not been in public until this week.

On Friday he emerged before a spellbound nation to apologize and admit that he had been in a rehabilitation center for 45 days and that he would return to therapy following his statement.

"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 inpatient 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."

Woods said that during a sporting career which had seen him elevated to iconic status, and on course to become the most successful golfer in history, he had begun to feel that "the normal rules don't apply."

"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 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 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.

"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."

Woods used the occasion to scotch 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 also kept fans guessing about when he may return to the sport following his self-imposed exile.

"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."

Immediately after the statement, Woods stepped from the podium to embrace his mother Kultilda, sitting in the front row.