… appearance, apology, praised by PGA Tour commissioner; Mom says media has treated Woods “like he’s a criminal”
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.  (Reuters) – Superstar golfer Tiger Woods, who stunned the sports world and took an indefinite break from the game in December after admitting he cheated on his wife, said yesterday he intended to return to professional golf one day but he did not yet know when.
“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,” Woods said, in his first public appearance since revelations of repeated infidelity caused his spectacular fall from grace.
Woods, the world’s No.1 golfer and most marketable figure in sports, bowed out of the game in a bid to repair his marriage.
Woods, a 14-time major champion whose image was squeaky clean until the scandal over his private life erupted last year, apologised repeatedly for what he called his “irresponsible and selfish behaviour”.
“I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable and I am the only person to blame,” Woods said. “I brought this shame on myself.”
He said that he had undergone 45 days of therapy and had “a long way to go” in repairing his personal life, adding that he would be returning to a treatment centre which he did not identify, starting on Saturday.
The 34-year-old American spoke to a small group of reporters at the headquarters of the U.S. PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The appearance was carried live on U.S. television and was widely watched.
Woods, who was wearing a blue blazer, a pressed blue shirt and no tie, spoke in measured and solemn tones as he delivered a prepared statement to the group of about 40 people in the room. His wife, Elin, was notably absent.
There had been speculation Woods might announce a date for his return to golf. His absence from events at which he usually competes generally drives down television ratings by 50 percent.
His comments appeared to suggest that he would miss the first Major tournament of the year, the U.S. Masters in Augusta at the beginning of April, which is the blockbuster golf event for sponsors and worldwide television audiences.

‘GOOD STEP’
But PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who praised Woods for taking what he described as “a good step” towards his eventual return to public life, said there was no rush about getting him back to professional competition.
“We’re supportive of whenever he comes back, whether it’s three weeks from now, or three months from now, that’s less important than when he comes back, he’s prepared to play to resume his career in a positive way so that he’s there for the long haul,” said Finchem.
Woods defended his wife and denied media speculation that there had been physical violence between the couple. The speculation arose after a bizarre minor car accident in November outside woods’ Florida home in the middle of the night.
“Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever,” Woods said.
He gave no account of what actually happened. It was that accident that snowballed into tawdry revelations about his personal life. Numerous women claimed to have had affairs with Woods in the days that followed.
Woods did not give details of his therapy. Media reports have said he was treated for sex addiction in Mississippi.
The golfer did not take questions after his statement, which Notah Begay, a friend and fellow PGA golfer, described to reporters in the room as “a heartfelt apology to so many different people.”
But Woods, who is believed to be the world’s wealthiest sports personality, was estimated to earn about $100 million a year in endorsement deals before the scandal led AT&T and Accenture to drop him as a spokesman.
Other sponsors and organisers offered words of support yesterday.
Robert Boland, professor of sports management at New York University, said Woods was not yet out of the crisis, however.
“It established boundaries for how he will return and may help him reestablish his brand effectively … I think this crisis can’t really blow over until he returns and plays golf,” Boland said.
“Sponsors are asking themselves, ‘if he’s not playing golf, why are we in this relationship
Woods said he had drifted away in recent years from the Buddhist beliefs taught to him by his Thai-born mother Kultilda, who was on hand at the PGA headquarters yesterday and whom he hugged after reading his statement.
He suggested that a renewal of his faith would help play a part in getting his life back on track.

“FOLLOWING EVERY IMPULSE”
“Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint,” he said.
Woods had been widely advised by his peers and public relations experts to make a public apology before returning to competition, many of them suggesting he should go even further by appearing in a television interview.
But his mother, speaking to reporters at the clubhouse after Woods spoke, said he had been singled out for unfair criticism and media scrutiny.
“As a human being everyone has faults, makes mistakes and sins. We all do. But, we move on when we make a mistake and learn from it,” she said.
“I am upset the way media treated him like he’s a criminal … He didn’t kill anybody, he didn’t do anything illegal,” she said.