After three months of silence, Tiger Woods has finally publicly spoken about his many infidelities.
Addressing a group of close friends and family — including his mom, Kultida, but not his wife, Elin Nordegren — who were assembled at TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., he read from a prepared statement, speaking for about 15 minutes.
Appearing emotional and at points choked up, Tiger called himself “selfish” and “foolish” for his behavior, saying that he convinced himself that normal rules did not apply to him.
"I never thought about who I was hurting," said Tiger, who was dressed in a suit with no tie. "Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by, and 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 and I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me."
He mentioned Elin — and their children, Sam and Charlie — several time throughout the speech and made it clear he and his wife have not reconciled.
"As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss, however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us."
Tiger admitted that since the end of December he's been in a 45-day, inpatient rehab program "receiving guidance for the issues that I am facing," which he'll be returning to on Saturday. "I have a long way to go, but I am taking my first steps in the right direction."
Adding: "In therapy, I have learned the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping imbalance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so I can save the things most important to me — my marriage and my children."
As for his highly-anticipated return to golf, it likely won't be in March, as speculated. "I do plan to return to golf — one day. I just don't know when that day will be. 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."
He concluded the speech by walking over to Kultida, seated in the front row, and hugging her. Then hugging or shaking hands with several other people seated in the front row before exiting through a curtain.
