Tiger Woods Admits Transgressions, Offers Profound Apology (Update)

Well it appears that there might be something to the rumors of his infidelity. Tiger Woods has just released a statement on his website TigerWoods.com that appears to own up to the rumors of not staying faithful to his wife Elin Nordergren, to whom he married five years ago. It opens with “I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.” The full statement after the jump.

The statement, published on TigerWoods.com, reads:

I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don’t share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one’s own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it’s difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.

Update – Audio that claims to be Tiger Woods leaving a voicemail message for alleged mistress Jaimee Grubbs was released today by US Weeklya>. The text of the message:
“Hey it’s Tiger, I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. Just have it as a number on the voicemail. You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. Bye.”

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Elin Nordegren, Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods admits affair, Tiger Woods aplogy, Tiger Woods statement

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• MartiniShark

  And we all care why?

  I really do not understand why there is all the clamoring for Woods to address these rumors. I heard Mike Lupica even stating that he “needs” to know what is going on. This impacts his family, and his kids. OK,OK, and his Escalade. Beyond that he really has no one else to answer to, does he?

• SWWT

  Cause we have to know everything about anything and anyone at anytime all the time for no reason.

• Nachi

  Perhaps the most salient item in the Tiger Saga is: He was driving a typical American-made, GM piece-of-crud truck. Had a significant crash w significant right-front damage. And no seatbelt deployed. Guess you need a real head-on.

• Sunnyr

  Wow, I always though Tiger was an intelligent, talented man. Now I think he is just talented.

• libra blue

  I don’t know why anyone gives a damn about some guy whose talent solely consists of pushing a ball towards a hole! He shouldn’t worry about his wife, that bimbo only married him for his money anyways. There are plenty more where she came from!

• SWWT

  But think about the children!

• libra blue

  Was Tiger Woods thinking about “the children” when he had his affairs?

• jimmymaher

  I notice the picture of Tiger posted by the Tribune along with this article has his tounge hanging out. Could be the golf ball remindes him of some white puntange he has tasted??Must be nice to be able to remanin anonymous while spouting such garbage. You’re a worthless person. Actually I am even more tired of the stupid comments by worthless people than I am of the story itself. None of you of course have ever had any of the problems of which you accuse Woods.
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