Tiger Woods announces return at Masters 2010

It's official. Tiger Woods is back.

Ernie Els win WGC-CA at Doral

Ernie Els made a triumphant return at the WGC-CA tourney at Doral. Shooting a final round 66, the Big Easy looked like the Ernie of old before his knee injury and many near misses. An Ernie back in form definitely makes the Masters 2010 interesting, especially with Tiger Woods's expected return.

Tiger Woods getting ready to return for Masters 2010

Casey Black recaps Round 1 of Honda Classic

Irene Folstrom, Stanford girlfriend of Tiger Woods: we had "normal sexual relationship"

Irene Folstrom, who claims to be Tiger Woods's girlfriend from Stanford, has written an essay defending him, his values, and asking people to give him a second chance. She also reveals underage drinking and a normal sexual relationship! Talk about TMI!

Click here for Folstrom's essay

Charles Howell chats with Tiger Woods on the golf range

Charles Howell talked to Tiger Woods for an hour yesterday out at Isleworth Country Club. According to CHIII, Tiger was hitting the ball as good as ever. Howell said they exchanged chit-chat, but didn't talk about his return (or the sex scandal, for that matter).

Our take: It seem very clear to us that Tiger Woods is gearing up for the Masters.

More here

Tiger Woods reportedly out of sex rehab, starting to practice golf

AP Doug Ferguson reports that Tiger Woods is out of sex rehab and is now working on his golf game.

No word yet on any reconciliation with Elin.

Casey Black recaps Hunter Mahan's win at Phoenix Open + 16th hole

3 strikes: Gatorade becomes 3rd sponsor to drop Tiger Woods after sex scandals

16th Hole at TPC Scottsdale Phoenix Open steals show

Only venue where booing in golf is encouraged!

Beautiful Casey Black replaces Win McMurry at PGA Tour recapping Ian Poulter's first PGA win

Hard to replace Win McMurry, but welcome Casey Black! Congrats to Ian Poulter!

Tiger Woods publicly apologized--now the public should move on with their own lives

The side show's over. Tiger Woods came out of hibernation--meaning sex addiction therapy--to publicly apologize for cheating on his wife in several now well publicized affairs.

Although Tiger didn't get into specifics, the affairs allegedly involved at least 12 women, including Rachel Uchitel, former porn star Joslyn James, Jamie Grubbs (who had the infamous voice mail of Tiger Woods), Cori Rist, and, perhaps the most shocking of all, Perkins waitress Mindy Lawton. The pattern in each of these affairs was that Tiger pursued the women for long term relationships (not just bootie calls), each woman thinking that Tiger really cared for her and even possibly loved her--and in some cases, might leave his wife for her. In several of the affairs, the women said they ended the relationship, yet Tiger kept on calling them for months, if not years, trying to hook up again. For at least some of the women, Tiger left voice mails and text messages that were overtly sexual in nature. By several accounts, Tiger Woods had a huge, perhaps insatiable sex drive and liked engaging in threesomes and watching girl-on-girl action. There may even be sex tapes of Tiger Woods, as well as some guy-on-guy action in the threesomes, if some of the rumors are true.

So, after all these embarrassing and scandalous allegations, Tiger Woods finally surfaced yesterday after nearly 3 months. In 13 minutes, he apologized numerous times for his cheating and indefensible behavior, reading from a written statement that he wrote himself.

While some critics have attacked Tiger's reading of the statement, calling it mechanical, scripted, and and even robotic (like a Terminator), these criticisms miss the point of Tiger's apology. That Tiger read a statement he wrote does not diminish the fact that Tiger Woods has owned up to his huge transgressions against his wife and family--and, by all appearances, is now trying to save his marriage by, among other things, addressing his sexual infidelities and narcissistic behavior. Don't know if he will succeed, but at least he's trying. In the end, whether we, the public, believe Tiger Woods is a "changed man" matters far less than whether his wife Elin does. Everyone else should now move on with their own lives.

The Golf Blog

Watch Tiger Woods apologize today at 11 am -- online streaming

Click here for the YouTube live feed at 11 a.m.







Full interview on Youtube:





TRANSCRIPT OF TIGER WOODS' STATEMENT
Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me or you've worked with me or you've supported me.
Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.

I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person, there are some things I want to say.

Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss; however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.

I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners.
To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly, the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago , my dad and I envisioned helping young people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the Learning Center students in Southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington, D.C., millions of kids have changed their lives, and I am dedicated to making sure that continues.

But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position.

For all that I have done, I am so sorry.
I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. 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 an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame.

The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.

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. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that 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. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them.

I was wrong. I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me.

I've had a lot of time to think about what I've done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It's now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I've made. It's up to me to start living a life of integrity.

I once heard, and I believe it's true, it's not what you achieve in life that matters; it's what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count.
Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It's hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early Februar y, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I'm facing. I have a long way to go. But I've taken my first steps in the right direction.
As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me for the details and the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I'm concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.
Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.

I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors, my commercial endorsements. When my children were born, we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behavior doesn't make it right for the media to follow my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to school and report the school's location. They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.

I recognize I have brought this on myself, and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That's where my focus will be.
I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don't realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. 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. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught.

As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I've learned that's how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I'm making these remarks today.

In therapy I've learned the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping in balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so I can save the things that are most important to me, my marriage and my children.
That also means relying on others for help. I've learned to seek support from my peers in therapy, and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. 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. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game. In recent weeks I have received many thousands of emails, letters and phone calls from people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me.
I want to thank the PGA TOUR, Commissioner Finchem, and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course.

Finally, there are many people in this room, and there are many people at home who believed in me. Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again. Thank you.

Ernie Els blasts Tiger Woods as "selfish" for scheduling press appearance during Accenture Match Play instead of on a Monday

Ernie Els said, "It's selfish. You can write that. I feel sorry for the sponsor. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday. This takes a lot away from the golf tournament."

Wow. Tiger-backlash is in full bloom.

What should Tiger Woods say on Friday?

Here's a recap of the last 3 months.

Tiger Woods to hold limited press appearance Friday -- first public appearance after sex scandal

Tiger Woods is ready to talk on Friday. Sort of. Only 3 members of the press will be allowed in. And Tiger Woods will field no questions.

So what do you think he should say to the public? What would like him to do?

Please email us at thegolfblog [@] gmail.com.

Dustin Johnson repeats @ Pebble; David Duval T-2

Elin Nordegren gives Tiger Woods 6 months to clean up his act

Sporting News reports from a friend of Elin Nordegren that she's given Tiger Woods 6 months to prove to her that he won't sleep around with other women. This follows Tiger Woods' completion of a stint at sex addiction rehab in Mississippi. (More click here)

Brooklyn Decker Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover

Brooklyn Decker is only 22 and married to Andy Roddick. Can life get any better?

Top 5 Shots of last week: Northern Trust Open

Steve Stricker wins Northern Trust Open; overtakes Phil Mickelson for No. 2 World Ranking

Phil Mickelson: golf needs Tiger Woods back

Should Phil Mickelson play Ping Eye 2 wedges with square grooves?

Answer: yes. If they are permitted by the USGA and PGA Tour, then any pro golfer can play them--even if they are grandfathered in because of a lawsuit brought by Ping. To anyone who says Phil Mickelson is "cheating," play a Ping wedge or shut it.

Ben Crane wins Farmers @ Torrey Pines, as Phil Mickelson plays amid Ping wedge, square groove controversy

Win McMurry leaves PGA Tour for The Golf Channel

We found Win McMurry. She's left the PGA Tour for The Golf Channel. She says, "It's been forever since I last tweeted but wanted to share that I'm now at Golf Channel hosting studio updates during live TOUR coverage!"

Here's a look down memory lane with Win last year.





This guy is Win's replacement at the PGA Tour:

Daily Beast: Elin Nordegren texted Rachel Uchitel posing as Tiger Woods after he denied affair

Wow. Basically, Elin Nordegren reportedly set up her own little sting operation to find out that Rachel Uchitel was having an affair with Tiger Woods.

Here's the video of the account

Winter golf in Colorado

Wow, we loved this spectacular image of our good friend Bill Browne on the driving range. Not only does he have a good swing, but the color contrast and imagery are breathtaking. (c) Bill Browne. (photographer Greg Moore)

Round 4 of Bob Hope Classic: Bubba Watson + Alex Prugh tied for lead; Round 5 today

Tiger Woods photo at sex addiction rehab Pine Grove clinic in Mississippi

Where's Tiger?

Check out the photo by National Enquirer by clicking here

Ryan Palmer wins Sony Open after chip gets help from pin

For a wrap-up of the final round, click here.

2010 winners:

1. Geoff Ogilvy - SBS

2. Ryan Palmer - Sony