Tiger Woods to Return to Therapy
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts as Miami Heat small forward Shane Battier looks on during the first half at Game 1 of the NBA finals basketball series, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) / Jeff Roberson
Updated
Tiger Woods is to return to therapy after he speaks publicly for the first time about his infidelity, according to a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem that was obtained by The Associated Press.
Finchem's letter to the PGA Tour policy board and other officials explained why Woods chose Friday to make his first public comments, which are to be televised live by all the major networks.
Woods' statement comes during the Match Play Championship, sponsored by Accenture, the first company to drop Woods as a pitchman.
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"As we understand it, Tiger's therapy called for a week's break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning," Finchem said in a letter Thursday. "Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement."
Woods is to speak at 11 a.m. EST from the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour. It's the next major step in image rehabilitation, since his adultery scandal exploded last November, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.
The letter shed no light on whether Woods plans to return to the tour anytime soon.
Appearing on CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, Connell Barrett, Editor-at-Large for Golf Magazine, said it was another case of the world revolving around Tiger's rules.
"I was a little bit surprised and disappointed when I heard the rules Tiger was laying down, the ground rules for the press conference," Barrett told anchor Harry Smith. "Because today I'm hoping we see a new chapter written, a new Tiger Woods where he's more humble, he's a little bit more media-friendly, and he's just more open and honest, speaking from the heart. Based on the ground rules for this press conference, that doesn't seem likely."
"Could you say, if you wanted to play couch psychologist, the PGA is continuing to enable him because this whole thing is happening from their very palatial headquarters?" Smith asked.
"That's correct," Barrett said. "I think the PGA Tour obviously wants Tiger back as quickly as possible. The timing I think isn't really that curious because my gut tells me that Tiger's going to want to come back for the Masters. And if he wants to come back to play the Masters, he's going to have to start playing some warm-up events, and that's going to start with this first step saying 'I'm back,' which is what I think we'll hear today."
CBS News has learned 20 to 30 people will be in the room with Woods tomorrow, most of them business partners and friends. What's unclear is whether any family members - including his wife - will be there.
Among those who won't be: sportswriters. The Golf Writers Association is boycotting the event, because Woods will not be answering any questions, just making a statement.
Barrett said the boycott makes total sense. "Golf writers were invited to cover Tiger Woods, yet Tiger said, 'You can't ask me any questions.' It's somewhat of an insult to ask journalists who take their jobs very seriously to cover an event but to act more as stooges and props than actual journalists asking questions."
Also appearing on "The Early Show," Jim Gray of The Golf Channel said during his years covering sports he could only remember two similar events: "The two that would come to mind was Mike Tyson biting off the ear of Evander Holyfield and then facing the music in the press after that and being suspended by the Athletic State Commission of Nevada and coming out and talking to that commission. That was a televised event. I believe all the networks picked it up at the time.
"And then Kobe Bryant appearing with his wife Vanessa after he was in Colorado, the allegations of rape, which [were] dropped and he was exonerated and that went away. Those are the two has come to mind.
"But this is so extraordinary, so out of the ordinary, and it just remains to be seen how this all plays and exactly what he says."
Gray did not expect Woods' wide, Elin, to appear at today's event. "I would imagine if this is Tiger's statement, I don't believe that she would be there. I don't know why he would want to subject her to this. But she may want to show support. These are really questions that can only be answered by Tiger and Elin."
Likewise, Barrett said he would be "shocked" to see Elin today. "I think we'll see Elvis before we'll see Elin at this press conference," he said.
CBSSports.com's Steve Elling: Tiger Woods Blog
CBSSports.com: Golfers Speculate about Tiger's Timing
Golf Writers Boycott Woods Event
Ernie Els was among players who were upset to learn that Woods had chosen the week of a World Golf Championship for a public appearance that was sure to take attention away from the tournament. "It's selfish," Els told Golfweek magazine.
Finchem told reporters in Marana, Ariz., earlier this week that he didn't think Woods' appearance would undermine Accenture, and that Woods' handlers "have their own reasons for their schedule."
In the letter, he said the tour discussed the timing with Accenture and "they understand that the PGA Tour was not involved in determining the timing of the statement." Finchem also noted that Woods' comments would be over well before television coverage of the third round from Dove Mountain.
The PGA Tour made available its sprawling, Mediterranean-styled clubhouse for the announcement, and is helping set up adjacent ballrooms at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott for media, where they can watch Woods on closed-circuit TV.
Finchem said in the letter that Woods' management asked for the facilities, and "we agreed as we would for any member of the PGA Tour."
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tiger Woods is to return to therapy after he speaks publicly for the first time about his infidelity, according to a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem that was obtained by The Associated Press.
Finchem's letter to the PGA Tour policy board and other officials explained why Woods chose Friday to make his first public comments, which are to be televised live by all the major networks.
Woods' statement comes during the Match Play Championship, sponsored by Accenture, the first company to drop Woods as a pitchman.
Tiger Woods: Complete Coverage
Will Tiger Woods Cry? Bet on It
Tiger's Statement a "Grand Opportunity"
Can Tiger Learn From Past Celeb Apologies?
"As we understand it, Tiger's therapy called for a week's break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning," Finchem said in a letter Thursday. "Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement."
Woods is to speak at 11 a.m. EST from the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour. It's the next major step in image rehabilitation, since his adultery scandal exploded last November, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.
The letter shed no light on whether Woods plans to return to the tour anytime soon.
Appearing on CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, Connell Barrett, Editor-at-Large for Golf Magazine, said it was another case of the world revolving around Tiger's rules.
"I was a little bit surprised and disappointed when I heard the rules Tiger was laying down, the ground rules for the press conference," Barrett told anchor Harry Smith. "Because today I'm hoping we see a new chapter written, a new Tiger Woods where he's more humble, he's a little bit more media-friendly, and he's just more open and honest, speaking from the heart. Based on the ground rules for this press conference, that doesn't seem likely."
"Could you say, if you wanted to play couch psychologist, the PGA is continuing to enable him because this whole thing is happening from their very palatial headquarters?" Smith asked.
"That's correct," Barrett said. "I think the PGA Tour obviously wants Tiger back as quickly as possible. The timing I think isn't really that curious because my gut tells me that Tiger's going to want to come back for the Masters. And if he wants to come back to play the Masters, he's going to have to start playing some warm-up events, and that's going to start with this first step saying 'I'm back,' which is what I think we'll hear today."
CBS News has learned 20 to 30 people will be in the room with Woods tomorrow, most of them business partners and friends. What's unclear is whether any family members - including his wife - will be there.
Among those who won't be: sportswriters. The Golf Writers Association is boycotting the event, because Woods will not be answering any questions, just making a statement.
Barrett said the boycott makes total sense. "Golf writers were invited to cover Tiger Woods, yet Tiger said, 'You can't ask me any questions.' It's somewhat of an insult to ask journalists who take their jobs very seriously to cover an event but to act more as stooges and props than actual journalists asking questions."
Also appearing on "The Early Show," Jim Gray of The Golf Channel said during his years covering sports he could only remember two similar events: "The two that would come to mind was Mike Tyson biting off the ear of Evander Holyfield and then facing the music in the press after that and being suspended by the Athletic State Commission of Nevada and coming out and talking to that commission. That was a televised event. I believe all the networks picked it up at the time.
"And then Kobe Bryant appearing with his wife Vanessa after he was in Colorado, the allegations of rape, which [were] dropped and he was exonerated and that went away. Those are the two has come to mind.
"But this is so extraordinary, so out of the ordinary, and it just remains to be seen how this all plays and exactly what he says."
Gray did not expect Woods' wide, Elin, to appear at today's event. "I would imagine if this is Tiger's statement, I don't believe that she would be there. I don't know why he would want to subject her to this. But she may want to show support. These are really questions that can only be answered by Tiger and Elin."
Likewise, Barrett said he would be "shocked" to see Elin today. "I think we'll see Elvis before we'll see Elin at this press conference," he said.
CBSSports.com's Steve Elling: Tiger Woods Blog
CBSSports.com: Golfers Speculate about Tiger's Timing
Golf Writers Boycott Woods Event
Ernie Els was among players who were upset to learn that Woods had chosen the week of a World Golf Championship for a public appearance that was sure to take attention away from the tournament. "It's selfish," Els told Golfweek magazine.
Finchem told reporters in Marana, Ariz., earlier this week that he didn't think Woods' appearance would undermine Accenture, and that Woods' handlers "have their own reasons for their schedule."
In the letter, he said the tour discussed the timing with Accenture and "they understand that the PGA Tour was not involved in determining the timing of the statement." Finchem also noted that Woods' comments would be over well before television coverage of the third round from Dove Mountain.
The PGA Tour made available its sprawling, Mediterranean-styled clubhouse for the announcement, and is helping set up adjacent ballrooms at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott for media, where they can watch Woods on closed-circuit TV.
Finchem said in the letter that Woods' management asked for the facilities, and "we agreed as we would for any member of the PGA Tour."
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20) " Good morning, and thank you for joining me. I hope most of you have already got in your morning sex and are about to have some during lunch-time too after my statement. Everyone has a good reason to be critical of me since you all know I have a problem keeping my pants on. I want to be simple and direct. I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in even though this is rehearsed. I thought the rules didn't apply to me. But they do. I've never done any performance enhancing drugs. I have had Minute Maid and sniffed a little glue at one time or another like anybody else. I would like to ask the press to leave my wife and kids alone. I can verify any rumors about anymore infidelity to them without your help. I must start living a life of integrity without wild unprotected sex that can get caught by the press. Character and decency are important when using Trojan condoms. They do say that the ribbed ones are the best ones for true pleasure. I will return to therapy and instead of trying to lick some girl's a**. I will try to lick this. I strayed away from Buddhism and went straight into hard core Bootyism. "
19 ) " I am sorry that I was caught and now have to apologize to so many women that I will never have sex with."'
18) '' When hearing my caddy scream hole in one. I had no idea how many holes I could get into off of the course."
17 ) " Yes, I AM TIGER. I AM TIGER. I AM A SEX MACHINE. I AM A GIGOLO. I AM MAN. THEY ARE WOMEN.
I AM A SEX ADDICT. I'M NOT ARROGANT. I'M TRYING TO APOLOGIZE. ''
16) '' I apologize to my wife and my fans. Because I had so many women on my TO DO LIST.''
15) '' My 9 clubs are usually saved for the golfing tour and not for my head. Elin never hit me on Thanksgiving night even though I was the real turkey. She did however threaten me several times during our arguments about how she desperately wanted to cut my b****off. Some people have made up thing that never happened. Like saying I had sex with another Hooters girl in the back of her car. Elin deserves praise and not blame. I was caught for being a bad cheater. That's why! Whenever I play I say foursome. I mean FOUR! ''
14) " It was never my intention to engage in any lascivious behavior with any Disney Characters. "
13) I am sorry that I didn't know about the settings on my I-Phone before this happened to me. My failures have made me realize if you're going to cheat then do it the smart way. "
12) '' I do believe that all fire hydrants should be safe for the fire departments and dogs to use.''
11)'' Yes, I was sex-texting before I had my crash."
10) I don't need racial diversity training like people think. Yes, I know some of them were s****s and weren't black women. But somebody had to hit it.
9) I received no personal consultation from Congressman Joe Wilson and his white supremacy group Sons OF The Confederacy on the rules of lying.
8) '' I NEVER had sex with that woman! But I did have sex with that woman."
7) '' No I haven't gotten any email from the Pope about my playlist. Noo! No! My music playlist. ''
6) '' No, I don't endorse sex with animals like some people do."
5) '' Yes, I do endorse hanging out with girl groupies like John Mayer and saying the '' N'' word.
4) '' I'm sorry, son. I'm not your father. But I did have sex with your mother."
3) '' No, I don't have a Top Ten List of Women for the Lettermen Show.''
2) '' No! No! The rumors about a Tiger Woods SEX App for the I-Phone are all untrue. As I continue to move forward. I will still look at women with really big booties. I will return to golf one day and have those great sudden death matches that I used to have without jumping in bed with many women."
Top 20 Reason No. 1
'' Finally, there are many people in this room and at home who believe in me. Today I ask for your help and that you find room in your heart to believe in me again yes, me, Tiger Woods. A $billion dollar athlete who has had sex with many women and wants sympathy from everybody while more important things are going on in the world. Look! The rumors about me being booked through out the summer at the Bunny Ranch in Las Vegas are false. Thank you. "
WHO CARES? Could switching to GEICO now save him 15% or more on his car insurance? Are his girlfriends also insured? Will cartoon Icon Bugs Bunny finally eat fricassee of rabbit? Will Elmer Fudd finally get proper pronunciation locked down? WHAT? Is he crying?
and better than tha, "let him who is without sin cast the first stone"
if it were me I would sue the whole bunch of you. If his wife supports him then, really ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, and we dont want to know about his private life...the guy is in therapy, get off his back. You hound these people. Like Bill Clinton, I would guess if we took a poll on all you media people, you would all be SAINTS right...nothing in your private lives, like cheating, or what ever. Get a GRIP...there are major things going on in our country, in the world, that you would have to stoop to kick a guy when he is down. He has done no criminal charge here...this is Personal between him and his family. Get on with your lives...I DONT BLAME HIM FOR JUST MAKING A STATEMENT AND NOT TAKING QUESTIONS. you media people keep dogging him. He is the Worlds BEST GOLFER...and all your pettieness is never going to change that. So, I suggest the Media get on with your life, because TIGER is getting on with his. He is not a politician, he is a GOLFER.