Woods begins his four-paragraph statement by saying that he is aware how much disappointment his infidelities have caused, and apologizing again for those infidelities. "It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done," he writes, "but I want to do my best to try."
He then writes:
"After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person."
There have been rumors leading up to this in the tabloid press that Woods would leave golf for a while; some even suggesting that he might permanently retire. That seems a bit of a stretch. But it also now seems a major stretch that we'll see Woods anytime in the next three or four months. Will he return in time for The Masters? Will he be back on the course in 2010 at all? What to you think?
I've written a couple times before this about how Tiger "tacitly" acknowledged cheating in his earlier statement, referencing "transgressions" and "personal sins." There's no more "tacitly" about it, however; with his new statement, Woods admits "infidelity."
As for the poll above, the PGA Tour and 99-percent of PGA Tour players will be voting for "by the 2010 Masters" because they desperately need Tiger on tour. During Woods' 8-month absence from golf following knee surgery in 2008, PGA Tour television ratings tumbled dramatically, golf Web sites lost tons of readers, print media buried golf stories. Bad economy plus no Tiger equals major headaches for pro golf.
But publicly, the PGA Tour isused this statement from Commissioner Tim Finchem: "We fully support Tiger's decision to step away from competitive golf to focus on his family. His priorities are where they need to be, and we will continue to respect and honor his family's request for privacy. We look forward to Tiger's return to the PGA Tour when he determines the time is right for him."
Here is the full text of Woods' statement:
I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.
After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.
Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.
See also: Tiger Woods scandals
Comments
i had written this on a blog on ESPN golf. Hopefully Tiger will realize that no one’s life is ever judged or defined by a single circumstance unless they allow it to be. our lives are always in process, we all make mistakes; a real hero chooses to learn from mistakes. if mankind could just take this one lesson we would have had paradise on earth by now.
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Tiger should just retire to Sweden with his fortune and take care of his wife and kids. play a few tournaments in Europe and find out again what he was taught when he was a kid. Find the true core of his making and come to peace with the mountain of pain he has heaped upon his wife, the shame upon his mom and the betrayal of values to his fans in particular the kids he had hoped to instill good values upon. those of us who are older know that in life, only love ones truly matter and everything else we do can either enhance it or separate us from it. Money, fame isn’t real, it’s value is in how tiger can make use of it to create the legacy his father had predicted. Find that again within the his childhood memory and he can become the man with a mission again. The goal of becoming the greatest of all time, winning more majors are trivial. Agassi found that out and has turned all his focus on being the best human being he could be by using his fame and wealth to really touch people’s lives. Tiger can do that anywhere, it doesn’t have to be in the US where everyone it seems wants to lynch him upon the the highest tree of public opinion. The world needs his power to change the lives of the disadvantaged. I loved watching Tiger play golf but it is now time for Tiger to realize that golf and fame is not leading him down the right path to true greatness. I would gladly give up seeing him play so that he can become a true man of influence.
I feel,media is unnecessarily going after Tiger Woods,Which person in the world has not slept with another woman<either he coudnt get the chance r he couldnt perform.Arnie/Jackson/Clinton/willies/hundreds of rich people hv been names but never a poor person because media wants spicy dish to sell.We should leave them alone.
I would suggest that Tiger’s father never taught him respect for women.
If his mother had any part in his education and training surely she would have made sure he saw women as something besides sex objects to be conquered and exploited.
As a woman whose first husband cheated, lied, I can commiserate with Elin. It is NOT a woman’s fault is the man is untrustworthy and a true scoundrel. His image is totally fake. You can’t be a “good family man” and go to the depths of deception that he has. Why marry?
I think Tiger’s issues go way deeper than just a person who chooses the wrong women to associate with.
If I were Elin, I’d divorce him and be done with it. He is not worthy of time to fix.
Also, as a golfing fan of Tiger’s, I have to say, I will NEVER again purchase another golf shirt or any Tiger products.
I think Elin should have come after Tiger with a surgical scapel rather than a golf club. Altering the swing weight of his mid-iron would result. Neutering would be a better payment than alimony for his many transgressions. Talk about infidelity. Tiger is the best. It proves the old addage “All that glitters is not gold”. In Tigers case he is gold plated dung in the minds of the majority of his former fans.