Tiger Woods Celebrates Sex Scandal's Almost-Anniversary With Massive Mea Culpa

Nearly a year after the car crash that snowballed into a national scandal, golfer pens letter apologizing to fans

By Gina Serpe Nov 18, 2010 8:42 PMTags
Tiger WoodsAP Photo/David J. Phillip

Tony Parker must be getting too many headlines these days, because Tiger Woods is doing just about everything he can to make sure the public doesn't forget that it was a year ago next week that he secured the title of the most hated man in sport. And fidelity.

In addition to joining Twitter this week—where he's already shared gems like, "The best part about phone interviews is getting to wear shorts"—the now single golfer has also taken time out to pen a massive mea culpa to his fans in Newsweek, informing them of how far he's come.

And incidentally reminding them how much farther he has to go. (Hey, Tony, grab a pen.)

"Last November, everything I thought I knew about myself changed abruptly, and what others perceived about me shifted, too," Woods wrote. You don't say.

Lest any among us have forgotten, it was Thanksgiving of '09 that Woods' car accident made headlines, first over concerns about his health, then unraveling into a nearly yearlong soap opera of indiscretions.

"The physical pain from that car accident has long healed," he continued. "But the pain in my soul is more complex and unsettling; it has been far more difficult to ease—and to understand. But this much is obvious now: my life was out of balance, and my priorities were out of order. I made terrible choices and repeated mistakes. I hurt the people whom I loved the most. And even beyond accepting the consequences and responsibility, there is the ongoing struggle to learn from my failings."

Woods went on to note that it took him awhile to look inward as he was "scared of what I would find—what I had become," but is now "grateful" that he did so.

Still, there's got to be someone else—or in this case, something else—to help shoulder the blame, right?

"Golf is a self-centered game, in ways good and bad. So much depends on one's own abilites. But for me, that self-reliance made me think I could tackle the world by myself. It made me think that if I was successful in golf, then I was invincible. Now I know that, no matter how tough or strong we are, we all need to rely on others."

Preferably, others who don't charge by the hour.

"Slowly, I'm regaining the balance that I'd lost. My healing process is far from complete, but I am beginning to appreciate things I had overlooked before. I'm learning that some victories can mean smiles, not trophies, and that life's most ordinary events can bring joy."

Events like giving his son, Charlie, a bath, making mac and cheese for his daughter Sam, or just snuggling up with his kids and some cartoons.

Tiger also acknowledged his most loyal fans, a contingent he was certainly concerned about losing in the wake of his sex scandal.

"When I first came back to golf this spring, after taking a necessary break, I was worried about how fans would treat me. But they've been kinder and more supportive than I ever imagined possible."

He also had some not so kind words for those who continue to pour out of the woodwork, in some cases falsely, and try to profit off his private life.

"Unfortunately, opportunists are trying still to cash in on my troubles, no matter how irresponsible or ridiculous their claims may be. In many cases, I've never even met these people. But there's no way I can dispute each lie without provoking more. Besides, everyone has probably heard more than they ever wanted to about my private life."

Certainly more than Tiger wanted them to hear.

"I can never truly repair the damage I've done, especially to my family. But I can keep trying…I'm not the same man I was a year ago. And that's a good thing." For everyone but Gloria Allred.