Golf-Woods ‘lived a lie’, nervous about fan response (Reuters)
March 21, 2010
* Tiger unsure of fan reaction
* Says he “hurt a lot of people”
(adds further quotes)
By Simon Evans
MIAMI, March 21 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods, in his firstinterview since he was engulfed by a sex scandal, said he liveda lie and that he is nervous about the reception he will receivewhen he returns to golf at the U.S Masters next month.
Woods told ESPN, in an interview which will be broadcast at19.30 ET on Sunday, that he did not know what kind of responsehe will get when he plays at Augusta in the Masters next month.
“I don’t know, I don’t know, I’m a little nervous about thatto be honest with you. It would be nice to hear a couple clapshere and there. But I also hope they clap for birdies too” saidWoods.
The world number one and 14 times major winner has admittedto multiple extra-marital affairs and said his life became alie.
“I was living a life of a lie, I really was. And I was doinga lot of things that hurt a lot of people. And stripping awaydenial and rationalisation you start coming to the truth of whoyou really are and that can be very ugly.
“But then again, when you face it and you start conqueringit and you start living up to it, the strength that I feel now.I’ve never felt that type of strength,” he said.
Woods did not discuss details about his affairs but saidthat “just one is enough and obviously that wasn’t the case”.
“I hurt a lot of people, not just my wife. My friends, mycolleagues, the public, kids who looked up to me.
“There were a lot of people that thought I was a differentperson and my actions were not according to that. That’s why Ihad to apologise. I was so sorry for what I had done,” he said.
Woods has been receiving treatment at a rehab clinic andsaid he found that a difficult experience.
“It was really tough to look at yourself in a light younever want to look at yourself, that’s pretty brutal.”
(Editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this storyemailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Tee it up with Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf 10