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Tiger Woods - Source: Getty -
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Looking jaded and despondent, Tiger Woods finally faced
questions on Monday about the sex scandal that turned him from the
biggest brand in sport to the disgraced target of hundreds of
jokes.
"It was hurtful, but then again you know what, I did it," he said.
"I'm the one who did those things and looking back on it now with a
more clear head, I get it.
"I can understand why people will say these things because you know
what, it was disgusting behavior. As a person, it's hard to believe
that was me, looking back on it now."
In separate five minute interviews with the Golf Channel and ESPN,
broadcast simultaneously after surprisingly little advance
promotion, Woods gave away little new information but was strong in
condemnation of what he called his "disgusting behaviour".
Watch the clip from YouTube.
Woods' only previous comments on his admitted infidelities have
come in the form of written statements and his 'no questions'
televised apology last month.
But having announced he is to return to golf at the US Masters next
month, the world number one, decided to give the two US sports
channels a chance to put him on the spot at his golf club in
Isleworth, near Orlando.
Woods made frequent reference to the treatment he is receiving but
declined to confirm exactly what kind of rehabilitation he is
undergoing, saying that it was "private".
He was also tightlipped about the details of the car accident on
November 27, 2009 that began the media frenzy around his
marriage.
"It's all in the police report," he said. "Beyond that,
everything's between Elin and myself and that's private."
Asked to define the state of his marriage to his Swedish wife,
Woods said that too was private.
"We're working on it and it's a process that will remain private
between her and I," he said.
But he was more expansive when asked to discuss how his late father
Earl would have reacted to his behaviour.
"He'd be very disappointed in me. We'd have numerous long talks.
That's one of the things I miss, I miss his guidance, I wish I
could have had his guidance through all this to have him help
straighten me up. I know he would've done it.
"I can't say on air (what he would have said) but he would've been
very direct. Basically (he'd say), you need to get your life headed
in the right direction again.
"I was living a life of a lie, I really was. And I was doing a lot
of things that hurt a lot of people. And stripping away denial and
rationalisation you start coming to the truth of who you really are
and that can be very ugly.
"But then again, when you face it and you start conquering it and
you start living up to it, the strength that I feel now. I've never
felt that type of strength," he said.
Woods did not discuss details about his affairs, he was not asked
about any of the women he has been linked with, but said that:
"just one is enough and obviously that wasn't the case".
Given his frequent references to privacy, Woods was asked why he
chose to make a public apology.
"I hurt a lot of people, not just my wife. My friends, my
colleagues, the public, kids who looked up to me."
Woods added the rehabilitation treatment had been a difficult
experience.
"It was really tough to look at yourself in a light you never want
to look at yourself, that's pretty brutal."
Read the full transcript HERE.
