Tiger Woods Starts Down His Somber Road to Recovery in the Public Eye

Perhaps he surprised you since he has clearly disappointed so many.

Through his public statement Friday, Tiger Woods began the work of taking responsibility.  Woods took full responsibility the way it should be taken on, by admitting he had multiple affairs that have damaged his life and his family.

Woods began his conference by taking responsibility through his prepared statement for all of his recently reported infidelities.  He was very direct in saying he became selfish in his behavior and that he felt he was entitled to follow a different set of rules because of his money and privileges.  Woods had to admit however, that he had been foolish in his assessment and behavior. 

He was clearly embarrassed by how wrong he was and the shame it brought his wife and his mother.

Woods did take time to emphasize his marital issues remain between him and his wife, Elin.

He also indicated that the work with his foundation will continue and it may be more important now than ever. 

The likely speculation here, is that the Tiger Woods Foundation was a project started by Woods and his late father Earl Woods.  So it is obviously a project close to his heart.  It is a program which focuses on helping kids in having opportunities they might not otherwise have.  Much of that work is done through the game of golf and scholarship grants for underprivileged youth.

Citing that he recognized the importance of being a role model, Woods gave himself no slack.  In fact, he mentioned that his core values growing up as a Buddhist had been overshadowed and forgotten through his privileged life and selfish behavior.

Woods also noted that this is really only the start down the road to a real and full recovery from his immoral behavior. He mentioned the only way he will get there, is through emulating what others have told him.  It is solely by his actions and his reformed behavior that he must focus on being a better example with his day to day life.

Woods did take time out to apologize to his sponsors and golfing colleagues for all of his shortcomings and the trouble it has caused each of them.  He mentioned that he needs to make his behavior more respectful of the game, the culture, his sponsors, and his fellow golfers. 

He said that he intends to golf again, possibly this year sometime, but would not give a deadline or have any specific tournament that he is publicly focused on right now.

In addition, Woods addressed the speculation about him possibly taking performance enhancing drugs by shooting that rumor down as being utterly false.

Woods was very somber and clearly drained from the ordeal that his behavioral issues have led to.  He said he has been in treatment and will continue to seek treatment to rehab his selfish and immoral decisions. 

He now appears to have realized in full how all of these issues have compounded the questions and issues about who Tiger Woods really is as a person.

Woods was adamant about protecting his wife Elin by saying she neither attacked him, nor has there ever been domestic violence in their marriage.  Additionally, he said the entire outstanding questions surrounding his marriage to Elin remains between him and Elin. 

Woods also reached out to his and Elin's surrounding family and friends in full remorse by stating how deeply sorry he was to those near and far for the fallout of his infidelity. 

His statement drew closer to its conclusion by his admitted neglect of his core Buddhist values that he grew up with.  He says he will now draw closer to his spiritual roots to help him on his road to recovery.

In conclusion, Woods asked that those who believed in him before, could eventually believe in him again.  In essence, asking for forgiveness but realizing it is a two-way street in which he must reform or repent from his immoral behaviors and refine his character. 

Woods clearly wants to live up to being a role model again, but realizes in full the challenging road that presents his life at this moment in time.

The fact that Woods felt he could play by different rules than everyone else speaks volumes not just about himself, but how others with excess money and privilege do behave in society. 

It’s a real issue. 

The great part about Woods' statement was that there is a somber realization on how not even Tiger Woods is above the moral code of conduct.  It was a sincere apology, well thought out, and very direct with regard to most topics surrounding Woods since the fallout began publicly on Thanksgiving night 2009.

It’s sobering to see a national sports hero start to take on all of the fallout for his irresponsible behavior.  The silver lining to all of this appears to be the application of change in progress in the face of more outstanding questions surrounding Woods presently and into the future. 

It’s a sad reminder but one that should be considered on a deeper and more personal level.

For Woods, regardless of his future direction, it appears a genuine recovery along and his career will remain to be gauged through the public eye.