Golf:Tiger Woods has issued an astonishing apology for "personal sins and failings" as the fallout from his car crash last week continued today. The statement on www.tigerwoods.com read: "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart."
Woods crashed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home in Florida in the early hours of last Friday morning, suffering facial lacerations and cuts and bruises.
The accident led to frenzied speculation about the 33-year-old world number one golfer’s private life and relationship with his wife Elin. Interest in the story has been huge with leading news websites across the globe registering it as their most popular story.
The statement continued: “I have not been true to my values and the behaviour my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect.
“I am dealing with my behaviour and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.
“Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realise the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives.
“The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin (his wife) has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.
“But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realise there are some who don't share my view on that.
“But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.
“Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.
“I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology."
The 14-time major winner pulled out of tomorrow's Chevron World Challenge, an invitational event he has hosted for nine years to help raise funds – an estimated €2.2million annually - for the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Woods’ absence from the Chevron meant Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell got a late call to take the world number one’s place in the select 18-man field at Sherwood Golf Club in California.
Earlier in the week Woods confirmed he will not be in competitive action again until 2010.
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