Tiger says he's sorry, no question

GOLF:THE LANGUAGE used by Tiger Woods in yesterday's statement was emotional, even if his body language wasn't overly so. The message, though, was as crystal clear as the trophies his wife reputedly smashed to smithereens on that night three months ago when she discovered his infidelities: Woods intends to bring the same focus to his rehabilitation as he did to dominating the fairways. For now, golf is very much secondary as he seeks to get his life back in order.

“I have learned the importance of keeping spiritual life and professional life balanced. I need to regain my balance,” said Woods, who hasn’t yet determined when he will return to competitive golf.

The golfer, who revealed he had spent 45 days “in inpatient therapy” for his alleged sexual addiction, will return to the unnamed clinic today to continue treatment.

Woods, who announced his arrival as a professional golfer with two words – “Hello, World” – in August of 1996, used almost 900 words in the televised statement to apologise for his “selfish and irresponsible behaviour” and he defended his wife, Elin, against erroneous reports she had assaulted him on that night last November when he crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant outside their Florida home.

He said his wife had shown “tremendous grace in this ordeal, she deserves praise not judgment”.

One thing is certain, Woods’s priority at the moment is not golf. “Achievements on the golf course are not what matters, decency and honestly are what matter,” he said, in apologising to those “kids” and families who had considered him a role model.

The 14-time major champion and world number one confirmed he would return to playing again, just he wasn’t sure when. “I don’t rule out this year,” he said. However, given the nature of the treatment and his determination to work out the consequences of his numerous affairs on the couple’s marriage, it would seem unlikely Woods will be back in time for the Masters at Augusta in April.

In choosing to make his statement in front of a hand-picked group of around 40 family members and friends – which included his mother Kultida, former tour player Notah Begay and US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem – rather than in a Q A press conference, Woods made it abundantly clear he would never discuss matters he believed to be private and also took the opportunity to rebut any suggestions he had ever taken performance- enhancing drugs.

And what came across loud and clear was Woods is focused and committed to taking the necessary steps in his treatment to allow him to resume playing.

While Woods continues to receive therapy for the issues which led to his fall from grace, the journey back is likely to be a long and difficult one. His absences – after the death of his father Earl in 2006 and after knee surgery in 2008 which kept him out of the sport for almost nine months – have resulted in serious drops in television ratings, although the tour commissioner yesterday sought to paint a brighter picture.

Finchem remarked: “He (Woods) does generate a significant increase in the overall interest in the sport, no question, and he does increase significantly the number of people that watch on television. And that plays into our long term relationships (with TV partners) . . . so, I don’t want to minimise the long term impact. But I think in this case the good news is that, one, he plans to return; two, he could return as early as this year; and three, he clearly has taken the first very visible step in the road to that return.”

Significantly, two of Woods’s main sponsors – Nike and EA Sports – issued synchronised statements of support for their man in the aftermath of yesterday’s soul-bearing. Nike said the company continued to fully support Tiger and his family and “looks forward to his returning to golf” and EA Sports confirmed their “strong relationship” remains unchanged and that the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 console game would be released as planned in June.

Mark O’Meara, a two-time major winner and friend of the player, believed Woods took an important first step by making his statement. “He’s doing the right things. Tiger’s a very intelligent person. He has meant a lot to the game and he has meant a lot to me and my family. His actions will speak more than the words for how he conducts himself over the rest of his life . . . we know what kind of champion he is, on and off the golf course, but this is a big battle he’s fighting right now. He’s going to show to the people he can be a champion off the course.”

Speaking before his match in the Accenture Matchplay, British Open champion Stewart Cink said he felt Woods’s words were “heart-felt”, adding: “It sounds like it’s part of the recovery or the healing process he has to go through. I’ve a couple of good friends that have gone through the alcohol abuse program with AA and similar steps are taken in the healing process where you have to make amends to the people you’ve hurt and you have to start the bridge to the other side.”

Although there had been criticism from some players about the timing of Woods’s televised statement during a big tournament, Cink added that Woods would be welcomed back into the fold when he returned.

No-one, not even Woods, knows when he will actually return to play. On yesterday’s offering, it would seem his head is nowhere near right for a return any time soon and his focus is on working on his marriage and regaining his integrity and a balance in his life.