In preparation for his much-anticipated return to competitive golf next month at the Masters, Tiger Woods gave five minute interviews with the Golf Channel and ESPN today and talked about getting “out of control” and being “disgusted” with his behavior. Interviewed at the Isleworth Country Club in Windermere, Fla., Woods also talked about how he thinks his late father would react if he were alive today. ”He’d be very disappointed in me,” Woods told Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman. “We’d have numerous long talks. That’s one of the things I miss, I miss his guidance, wish I could have had his guidance through all this to have him straighten me up.”
Woods, whose eyes appeared red while talking to Tilghman, talked about his experience in rehabilitation even though he didn’t specify why he was undergoing treatment. “Being there for 45 days you learn a lot,” he said. “You strip away the denial, the rationalization and you come to the truth and the truth is very painful at times and to stare at yourself and look at the person you’ve become…you become disgusted.”
When asked how he got out of control, Woods explained it was because he was “going against core values, quit meditating, I quit being a Buddhist. I felt I was entitled. I hurt so many people by my reckless attitude and behavior.” As for the children who consider him a role model, Woods hopes time will heal all wounds. ”I’m trying to become a better person each and every day. The proof in pudding is over time.”
Woods told Tilghman that he plans to continue seeking therapy and is now wearing a Buddhist bracelet that represents “protection and strength.” As for the state of his marriage, Woods would only say “we are working on it” and left it at that.
He recognizes that he’s become a punch line for many people. “It was hurtful. I did it. I’m the one who did those things,” he told the Golf Channel. “Looking back on it now, I get it. I can understand why people would say those things. It was disgusting behavior, it was hard to believe it was me.”
Over on ESPN, Woods talked to Tom Rinaldi about why he felt the need to issue a public apology. “I owe a lot of people an apology. I hurt a lot of people. Not just my wife. My friends, my colleagues, the public, kids who looked up to me. There were a lot of people that thought I was a different person.”
As for returning to play golf April 8 at the Masters, Woods told ESPN, “I still have a lot of treatment to do. Just because I’m playing doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop going to treatment.”
Image Credit: Paul Gallegos / PR Photos
What a softball interview, whats the point of doing this if your not gonna talk bout the night of the car crash? It’s what the public is curious about the most anyways, leave it to ESPN to give a fluff piece.
“softball”? he’s not a politician. he doesn’t owe us an answer. it’s nobody’s business what happened the night of the crash.
I totally agree move on people get a life.
Tigers public image was always aloof, privileged, everyone wants to be like Tiger. Well his pants are literally down on this one. He is a disgusting fraud and I wouldn’t buy any product that misrepresents a fraud. His marriage proved to be a complete fraud and deception. He acts like a sexual pervert and I don’t admire this type of person.
billb
you said all that needs to be said on this subject…let’s move on, just like we did with Kobe….Kobe who!!!
I agree with you to some extent.
The only thing I don’t agree about is how he didn’t get ticketed for any moving violations? You and I would have gotten careless or wreckless driving & also would have been tested for alchohol and drugs. I believe tests were done but never handed over to the police?
Too late Tiger!! John Daly is still my inspiration among golfers!!
Given that Tiger Woods, perhaps moreso than anyone in the world, is a brand name, I’d say it’s gotta be someone’s business. How about the consumers?
I agree. What do you mean “softball”? Tiger doesn’t owe anybody else any explanation. The first time he did it I didn’t feel that he owed anybody anything, except his family, and I certainly don’t feel he still needs to be talking about his business now.
Hey you guys, just a heads up, I did NOT write any of the following post on this site. Someone has stolen my name and refuses to stop writing racist non-sensical comments under my name. Please disregard any of the posts under the name “NSHI”. Thank you .
Get A Life. If you need to hear the details, it’s you and your like that have created this voyeristic society. It’s distasteful in every respect!
Your advice is very wise.
More like cotton ball questions. Here’s what we should be asking: Why didn’t Woods cooperate with the police on the night of the accident? Why did he still refuse to be interviewed by the police several days afterward? He was supposedly snoring when he was lying in the street. Was he stoned on drugs when he got behind the wheel of his car? How can Woods explain his direct connection to a doctor who was arrested for smuggling illegal performance enhancing drugs in from Canada? Those are the things we have a right to know. Elin can handle the rest.
you don’t have a right to know anything. If you do not like him now don’t watch golf
The public doesn’t need to know about the crash. It happened so let it go. It is none of your business. He is owning up to his mistakes and not making excuses. He is on the right path and no one including you is exempt from mistakes.
A mistake is something one does by accident. Woods’ affairs were all calculated. If he hadn’t gotten caught, he’d still be screwing around. The infidelity may be not be anyone’s business, but drunk/stoned driving and withholding information from the police are illegal — and that’s everyone’s business, whether it’s done by a pro athlete or anyone else. We’ll never know how much money the cops took to stop asking questions. That’s the rich man’s privilege. If an average guy was found stoned in the street after crashing a car, he would have woken up in a jail cell.
This guy has a tighter grip on the media and what questions they can ask than Hitler did.
Thank goodness he doesn’t control South Park – hilarious episode showing the phoniness of Tiger and the made-up addiction.
Everyone who said Tiger owe’s us no explanation got it right. What business is it of mine?
Once, he gets back on the circuit, everthing will blow away and he’ll be fine and, once again, the king.
I can’t believe we live in such a petty society that we like to tear our heros down and we are beyond forgiveness. Unbelievable.
White America must vilify this successful black man to feel about good about itself. God is the only one who has the right to judge you Tiger.
God and his wife. Of course, his wife is white, but not American. Huh. Maybe, just maybe, this isn’t about race at all. Maybe it is just about Tiger being an idiot. Hmmm, who else could be so idiotic? Jesse James, perhaps? A white man? Huh. I guess being a creep knows no color boundaries.
Jesse James is a NEO-NAZIS. Are you getting a college education Amanda, you are wasting your money! HAHA
Oh my God you are so judgemental. Know one is beyond making mistakes. Get a grip.
Actually…..it’s “no” one, not “know” one.
Well said..race has nothing to do with the dispiciple choice Tiger Woods made to cheat on and humilite his wife and family, not once but twelve time..as a talented athlete he is thrown in the public eye and apparently had no regard for the consequences of his actions so ya when you know you are that famous and still decide to do the obviously wrong and disgusting thing, it will become everyone’s buisness
OH good grief Nshi, you find racism in EVERYTHING! You said that you thought the only reason we wanted Betty White on SNL was because her last name is White!
We aren’t criticizing Tiger because of this ethnicity, we are criticizing Tiger because he acted like an idiot, cheating on his wife with double digit mistresses. That is it. YOU are the one who keeps bringing up race, not us.
LMAO- Of course…S/He is a troll trying to incite some “war of words” on a stupid internet message board. It’s quite pathetic. Get a life and try a hobby, Nshi.
I’m sorry all. I am SUCH a D-BAG. I will just go away and finish eaing my fried chicken with waffles, watermelon and wash it all down with a Schlitz Malt 40 ouncer.
While you’re doing that, I’ll finish eating my neighbor’s dog and wash it down with the river of poop flowing under and through Shanghai.
Nerwen, I think someone is bored and posting under others’ names again.
I didn’t write this ^ .
Too bad he is more asian than black.
What difference does it make.He multicultural so what. A high percentage of the United States is.
TIGER DOES NOT WANT YOU TO CALL HIM BLACK,FOR SOME REASON ITS LIKE HE IS ASHAMED TO SAY I AM PART BLACK
Nshi,
You talk about God being the only judge, but then you talk about White America, It’s a good thing then, most of us look to God and not you.
Ah, the race card, again played first by a black person.
That’s why we luv’em and keep ‘em around.
glad someone loves you too and keep you around!
Maybe now everyone can move on. I just want to stop seeing his name in the headlines, unless its for winning golf tournaments.
If only the media did not feel entitled to more information we could MOVE ON!!!!! For those who need more information about the accident, see the accident report. Yes, he was stupid to have sex with the sleazy women we get it. Now let it go unless one of the tramps was your girlfriend.
can tiger handle the public during the masters
Tiger’s reputation is going to be permenantly stained, no amount of softball interviews is going to change that. He might still be a great golfer but none of his fans will see him the same way again, this is one of those times where your actions will have permenant consequences
Permanently scarred, not stained. Don’t mix your metaphors son.
What? Permanently stained is a metaphor.
PS I’m not a boy
Nerwen, don’t feed the trolls.
Assuming you are a male… that’s just the typical example of Nshi jumping to prejudgments – something Nshi is prone to, whilst in the midst of histrionic finger-wagging.
Don’t be so condescending, son.
The man cheated on his wife. No more, no less. Doesn’t make a difference if he is white or black. It was despicable. But I know many men and women that have done the same and I can’t think of anyone who has lost their job because of it with the exception of a few politicians. People cheat on the spouses; sad but true. Leave him alone and move on.
But Tiger hasn’t lost his job, he may have lost endorsements but (well he could certainly spare a few) and he is still going to play golf
EW pays Nshi to stir the pot
I like your theory
Please delete your racist comment!
I see the name stealing trolls are at it again guys. I did not write any of the posts on this site. I’m soooooo sorry I started this nonsense in the first place. I guess this will never die.
He will make more than he did before..he will generate all of the money he did brfore for the golf industry. He was the reason golf became so mainstream. He is a human being who has a right to be forgiven but does not need anyone’s forgiveness to genrate the income he once did. Everyone makes mistakes.
I personally have always been a fan, and yes will not look at him the same. but the time has come to let the man get on with his life. Who REALLY cares what happened the night of the crash?? Let’s care about how he learns from his mistakes.I’m glad he is coming back for the Masters aren’t you all?
here here yes tickled he is coming back welcome Tiger … just get on with your life and many before you who have made big time mistakes we are human .. you will survive this move on with your Family and put if behind you .. continue to be who you are and you will be fine ..
He is a grown man. He is damned well permitted to do whatever he wants. If his wife isn’t keeping house – oh well. It is not my business or anyone elses. It wasnt then, and it damned sure isn’t now. If he has a little something on the side – SO WHAT! Does not hurt me in the slightest. Not My Business! It has nothing to do with whther ot not he can play golf. And THAT is the part of Tiger that most people enjoy. I wont buy Nike ever again. And, will not purchase a damned Gatoraid. It was not their place to judge. NOR is it any of ours to place any form of judgement upon Tiger. Toooo damned many people love to cast the first stone.
You can buy Nike they didn’t drop him
I don’t understand everyone is acting like Tiger is the first and only one to do this “HORRIBLE” thing. John McCain cheated on his ex with his current wife and we were willing to put him in the highest office in the U.S. Also, Rudy Giuliani did it…. Also, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Larry Bird (Outside child as a result), Michael Jordan, Kobe, SC Governor, and the list goes on and on and on………. Why is Tiger receiving more flack than the rest of these people???? What’s the underlying issue??? I don’t get it. It was WRONG!!!!!! He will have to take it up with the man upstairs. Let’s move on….
I agree with everything you said, except about John McCain, I’m not saying that he didn’t cheat on his wife I’m just arguing the point about putting him in the highest office in the US. He didn’t get in (obviously) and even the Republicans really didn’t want him as their candidate in the end
Sarah Palin is what killed any chance John McCain had of getting in the White House, not his extramarital affairs. The media barely cared about that.
No John McCain killed any chance of becoming President, Sarah Palin was the reason some of the fanbase got excited in the first place. John McCain just couldn’t connect with voters like Obama and yes even Sarah Palin. End of story.
But we are off topic, we are talking about Tiger and his extramarital affairs, not the 2008 Presidential election. I know I started this veering off topic but now I think we should end it
I so totally agree with you.
Once a cheater, always a cheater.
Even if a cheater never cheats again? Is that true for all sins, or just cheating? Blanket assumptions aren’t usually very accurate.
I hope he comes back and completely kicks ass. He did nothing wrong to me. Maybe he used some poor judgement. But it is not my business. I just want to see him play again AND WIN!
Tiger Woods seems to be in the fight of his life. Tiger is desperately trying to save his marriage and his family. Tiger repeatedly has said publicly that he loves Elin and the children and that they are the most important thing of his life. You have to feel sorry for the guy. Tiger gave his soul to the devil in exchange for pleasures of the flesh. He may pay for this the rest of his life, more so if he looses Elin Nordegren and his children! I pray that whatever Elin decides to do work the best for her and her two precious children. My heart goes to them!
Boo frickin’ hoo!
Just another example here of why GOLF IS NOT A SPORT!
Why do we have to see this creep on TV 24/7 in his PR “interviews” to try and clean up his image. Try working on it with your wife instead of yapping to Oprah about how you’ve had such a poor life of unbelievable wealth and fame.
Boo frickin’ hoo.
how is Tiger Wood’s behavior indicative of Golf’s status as a sport. That’s like saying Jow Namath’s off-field antics are just another example of why FOOTBALL IS NOT A SPORT! And lay off the all caps – just because you are grossly overweight with hypertension and prone to bouts of sweaty, mouth-breathing excitability in real life, doesn’t mean you have let the internets know that, too.
“We’d have numerous long talks. That’s one of the things I miss, I miss his guidance, wish I could have had his guidance through all this to have him straighten me up.”
Oh God Tiger, you’re a GROWN MAN. What the hell are you talking about? You make it sound as though your dad died when you were a kid. He didn’t. He’s been out of your life for a few years. It’s always painful to lose a parent no matter how old you are, but I’m pretty sure when your dad died you already knew that infidelity is wrong. He didn’t need to tell you that. Grow up and take responsibility for your actions, you’re 34 years old. Just say you’re human, and like all humans you made a mistake, don’t blame it on not having guidance. You’re not a child. Jeez, I’m getting tired of the lame-ass excuses, just stop with the apology tour.
Reading comprehension fail on my part, it totally went over my head on what he meant by “guidance”. I thought he meant it in the sense that his father’s presence would have stopped him from cheating, but now I realize that’s not what he meant at all.
So what did he mean then? I took it to mean exactly what you wrote in your first post.
I’m sure I read; after the incident(s), that Tiger’s dad had many mistresses which upset Tiger, & that he would never be like him. Is that the ‘guidance’ he was looking for; i.e. how to get away with it?
Let’s hope his new image includes smiling for the public. He’s so dour.
Once again, I repeat “there’s not a man alive that can’t be had.”
Maybe Tiger should become a mulim that believes his death will be awarded with 76 (or however many they claim) virgins. Now, that’s a real laugh, would love to be there when they open the gates & see NOTHING!
I think he meant that with his father’s guidance, he would better learn to cope with the fallout from the situation. But he worded it so poorly it sounds as though he’s saying his father’s presence would stop him from cheating. I had to re-read that part several times over to finally get it, but I can understand why other people would think he’s trying to shirk responsibility for his actions.
And yeah, it is funny he said that considering his father was no better.
It’s only disgusting if you get caught, isn’t that right Tiger?
Holla!