PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — An emotional Tiger Woods apologized repeatedly Friday for his "irresponsible and selfish behavior" in his first public statement since his affair scandal broke in November.
"I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you," said Woods in front of a select group of invites at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. "I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position. I have a lot to atone for."
While his wife, Elin Nordegren, was seemingly missing from the small crowd, Woods said the couple is attempting to repair their marriage.
"Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage done by my behavior," he said. "My real apology will not come in words. It will come in my behavior over time."
The embattled 34-year-old golfer also sought to clear up rumors surrounding his bizarre Nov. 27 accident, in which he crashed his SUV outside his home.
"Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night," said Woods. "It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that: Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been [any] domestic violence in our marriage. Ever."
Woods then stressed that all fingers should be pointed at him.
"I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable – and I am the only person to blame," he said. "I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries 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."
Woods also made it a point to deny that he ever used performance-enhancing drugs, saying those allegations are "completely and utterly false."
The PGA star also confirmed that he sought therapy for his "issues" for 45 days, beginning in mid-December. He said he was returning to treatment again on Saturday.
As for his golf career, Woods said his return to the game remains in doubt.
"I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be," he said. "I don't rule out it will be this year."
At the end of his nearly 15-minute long speech, Woods pleaded for the world to give him a second chance.
"Today, I want to ask for your help," said Woods, fighting back tears. "I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again."
Woods has been under the microscope ever since he crashed his car. The accident came shortly after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that he was having an affair with Rachel Uchitel, a New York nightclub manager. After the first affair allegation, several more women stepped forward claiming to have engaged in sexual trysts with Woods, including former VH1 Tool Academy contestant Jaimee Grubbs and porn star Holly Sampson.
The former Stanford star later admitted to cheating on his wife, while also announcing plans to put his golf career on an indefinite hold in order to focus on his family.
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