With a public apology and another appeal for privacy, Tiger Woods acknowledged on Wednesday that he let his family down with unspecified “transgressions” that he regrets with “all of my heart.”
“I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves,” Woods said on his Web site following a magazine report of an alleged affair.
It was his longest statement since a middle-of-the-night car crash outside his Florida home last week set off the greatest media scrutiny of Woods’ career and his five-year-old marriage to former model Elin Nordegren. He did not go into detail and said he would deal with his “personal failings” with his family.
“Those feelings should be shared by us alone,” Woods said.
Shortly after the investigation of the car accident ended on Tuesday with a US$164 citation for careless driving, US Weekly reported that a Los Angeles cocktail waitress claims she had a 31-month affair with the world’s No. 1 golfer.
About three hours before Woods’ statement, the magazine released what it said was a voice mail — provided by the waitress, Jaimee Grubbs — that Woods left on her phone three days before his accident.
“I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves,” Woods said on his Web site. “For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”
Woods’ career — as a golfer and perhaps the most recognized and marketable athlete in the world — has been largely without blemish since he turned pro at age 20.
Three of his sponsors — Nike, Gatorade and EA Sports — expressed support or commitment to Woods. Gillette said it had no plans to change its marketing programs. AT&T declined to comment.
In the most critical comment from a player, Jesper Parnevik said he owed Nordegren an apology for introducing her to Woods. She once worked as a nanny for the Parnevik family.
“We probably thought he was a better guy than he is,” Parnevik told the Golf Channel from West Palm Beach, Florida, where he is in the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying.
Police said Woods’ wife told them she smashed out the back window of his Cadillac Escalade SUV with a golf club to help get him out after he struck a fire hydrant and tree.
“I would probably need to apologize to her and hope she uses a driver next time instead of a three-iron,” Parnevik said, adding that he has not spoken to Woods since the accident. “It’s a private thing, of course, but when you are the guy he is — the world’s best athlete — you should think more before you do stuff ... and maybe not ‘Just do it,’ like Nike says.”
In its final report released on Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said Woods caused US$3,200 in property damage, was not wearing a seat belt and was traveling 48kph in a 40kph zone.
The six-page report — which did not include statements from Woods, his wife or any witnesses — said Woods’ SUV rubbed up against bushes, crossed over a curb, onto a grass median and into a row of hedges, before striking the fire hydrant and a tree. Damage to his Cadillac Escalade was estimated at US$8,000.
Far more damaging to his image was the US Weekly cover story.
Grubbs told the magazine she met Woods at a Las Vegas nightclub the week after the 2007 Masters — two months before Woods’ wife gave birth to their first child.
In the voice mail released by the magazine, a man says to Grubbs: “Hey, it’s, uh, it’s Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Um, can you please, uh, take your name off your phone. My wife went through my phone and, uh, may be calling you. If you can, please take your name off that and, um, and what do you call it, just have it as a number on the voice mail, just have it as your telephone number. That’s it, OK. You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right. Bye.”
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