Tiger Woods: ‘I Am Deeply Sorry For My Irresponsible & Selfish Behavior’

Tiger Woods has finally broken his silence.

In his first public statement since his late night Thanksgiving crash – and his subsequent marital problems due to his admitted “transgressions” and “infidelity,” the embattled golfer spoke out on Friday morning in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

“I want to say… I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in,” Woods told a room of friends, colleagues, media – and even his mother — on Friday morning.

His wife, Elin Nordegren, was not present during the televised 13-minute speech given in the Sunset Room on the second floor of the TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour.

However, Woods did indeed address his wife. At times, in fact, it seemed like he was speaking directly to her.

“Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. 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,” he continued. “We have a lot to discuss. However, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.”

During the speech, Woods also addressed reports that Nordegren physically attacked him the night of his SUV accident at his home in Windermere, Fla.

“I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that,” he said. “Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage – ever.

“Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame,” Woods added. “The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable and I am the only person to blame.”

[AH NATION: Was Tiger’s Apology Sincere? CLICK HERE to cast your vote!]

He also confirmed previous reports that he had checked into a therapy facility.

“It’s hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in in-patient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I’m facing,” he said. “I have a long way to go, but I’ve taken my first steps in the right direction.”

On Thursday, a letter written by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Woods would be returning to therapy after his speech on Friday.

“As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning [to therapy],” Finchem said in the letter Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

During his speech, Woods said his infidelity was a result of a false sense of entitlement as one of the world’s biggest superstars.

“I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself,” he said. “I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by — 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,” he continued. “Thanks to money and fame, I didn’t have to go far to find them. I was wrong, I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone, apply to me.”

As for when the golfer will return to the course, he said no timetable has been set.

“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,” he revealed.

CLICK HERE for a full transcript of Tiger Woods’ speech!

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