Tiger Woods apologized publicly Friday morning for cheating on his wife with a string of mistresses.
Before a hand-picked group of media in Florida, golf's biggest star said, "Many of you are my friends. Many of you know me. Many of you have cheered for me.
"Now every one of you has reason to be critical of me.
"I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior."
He also apologized to his wife, Elin Nordegren, with whom he has two children, but said his true apology to her would not come with words, but with his behavior. Nordegren, a Swedish model, did not attend the press conference.
Woods said reports that he crashed his vehicle in late November because his wife struck him while driving are not true. He said there's never been any domestic violence in their relationship.
"Elin deserves praise, not blame, " Woods said.
The issue is not his wife, Woods said, but his "repeated irresponsible behavior, I had affairs, I have cheated. ... I stopped living by the core values I was taught."
"I thought only about myself."
Woods said he would not discuss his sexual transgressions with the press and asked that the media respect the privacy of his wife and children.
He took issue with the media following his wife and mother, and for reporting the location of his child's school.
"Please leave my wife and kids alone," he said.
"I owe it to my family to become a better person ... that is where my focus will be."
Woods said he would more actively practice Buddhism, a belief system he has practiced since youth.
Woods said he will continue sexual therapy sessions in the immediate future, and work towards returning to golf.
"I do plan to return to golf one day, I am not sure when that day will be," he said, adding that it is possible he could return to the Tour this year.
Woods also said he had never used performance enhancing drugs.
He did not answer questions after his brief speech.
The man many consider the world's greatest golfer has stayed away from the media since Dec. 11, 2009, when he announced he would take an indefinite leave from professional golf to focus on his marriage with Nordegren. Woods crashed while arguing with his wife in late November. Quickly thereafter, multiple women announced they had affairs with Woods, including porn stars and Waffle House waitresses.
Woods, 34, has won 14 professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour.
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