Tiger Woods is ready to talk about his "disgusting behavior."
In a revealing interview with Kelly Tilghman of the Golf Channel, Woods says that he's spent 45 days in treatment and is ready to return to the game that made him famous.
"I hurt so many people by my own reckless attitude and behavior," said Woods. "I tried to stop and couldn't stop."
See the whole interview.
ESPN released clips of the interview via press release prior to the interview's airing. Some of the quotes follow.
On why he got married:
Woods: "Why? ‘Cause I loved her. I loved Elin with everything I have. And that's something that makes me feel even worse. That I did this to someone I loved that much."
On the depth of his infidelity:
Woods: "Well, just one is enough. Um, and obviously that wasn't the case, and I've made my mistakes. And as I've said, I've hurt so many people, and so many people I have to make an amends to, and that's living a life of amends."
On all that has happened over the past year:
Woods: "A lot has transpired in my life. A lot of ugly things have happened. Things that have.....I've done some pretty bad things in my life. And uh, all came to a head. But now, after treatment, going for inpatient treatment for 45 days and more outpatient treatment, um, I'm getting back to my old roots."
On what happened the day of the car accident:
Woods: "Well you know it's all in the police report. Beyond that everything's between Elin and myself and that's private."
On why he didn't seek treatment before all the news broke:
Woods: "Well I didn't know I was that bad....stripping away denial, rationalization. You strip that away and you find the truth."
On the low points -- the moments of having to tell his wife and mother:
Woods: "They both have been brutal. They've both been very tough. Because I hurt them the most. Those are the two people in my life who I'm closest to and to say the things that I've done, truthfully to them, is...honestly was...very painful."
On what his measure of success will be at the Masters:
Woods: "Well, playing is one thing. I'm excited to get back and play, I'm excited to get to see the guys again. I really miss a lot of my friends out there. I miss competing. But still, I still have a lot more treatment to do, and just because I'm playing, doesn't mean I'm gonna stop going to treatment."
On the expected/hopeful reception from fans:
Woods: "I don't know. I don't know. I'm a little nervous about that to be honest with you...It would be nice to hear a couple claps here and there...but also hope they clap for birdies too (laughs)."
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Tiger Woods is ready to talk about his "disgusting behavior."
In a revealing interview with Kelly Tilghman of the Golf Channel, Woods says that he's spent 45 days in treatment and is ready to return to the game that made him famous.
"I hurt so many people by my own reckless attitude and behavior," said Woods. "I tried to stop and I couldn't stop. It was horrific."
In a rapid-fire six minutes of give and take, the disgraced golfer showed a greater willingness to open up about the behavior that led to becoming a punchline, including how "disgusted" he was by the "painful truth" about himself.
"I quit being a Buddhist, and my life changed upside down. I felt entitled, which I had never felt before," said the golfer, who now wears a Buddhist bracelet for "protection and strength" and says he has no plans to remove it.
Ever.
Woods demurred on a few questions, including what happened on that Thanksgiving night between Elin Nordegren and himself.
"It's all in the police report, they investigated it and they have it on public record; there's a lot of stuff between Elin and I that will remain private and that's about it," said Woods, though he did offer this tidbit about his now-infamous crash, "I wasn't going very fast, but unfortunately, I hit a few things."
Woods was willing to open up about most other things, including what he plans to tell his children about what happened.
"I will have that sit-down talk and it won't be just one time, I know that. It will be numerous times and I take full ownership of it, I did it. No one else did; it was just me," he said. "I will talk to my kids, for however long they want to talk about it. That is a conversation that will need to be had."
As his life became fodder for the tabloids, South Park and computerized news recreations, Woods says he's come to understand the notoriety.
"It was hurtful, but then again you know what, I did it. 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."
As well as The Golf Channel (which, like E!, is part of Comcast Entertainment Group), Woods also granted an interview to ESPN about discussed many of the same topics, though there was one response that suggests the sports star may be as ready for a comeback as the father and husband.
"It would be nice to hear a couple claps here and there…but also hope they clap for birdies too," Woods said.
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