The room was quiet with very little fidgeting, and much anxiety, as we all waited for Tiger Woods to appear. He walked out to a silent audience and delivered his pre written and rehearsed speech from the podium. No waterworks came out, and he showed very little emotion as he addressed more questions than it was presumed that he would.
He first said that he and Elin have "started the process of assessing the damage" to their relationship. He admitted to checking in to "inpatient therapy" over the past 45 days he has been absent. He also cleared up the rumors that Elin beat the crap out of him when he wrecked his Escalade on Thanksgiving night.
He gave no further details of his strange crash, how many women were truthful in their coming out about him, or if him and his wife were actually still together. These details are said to be private, between husband and wife.
He was very apologetic, and repeatedly claimed his activities were selfish and foolish, and that he had convinced himself that "normal rules didn't apply" to him. Um, hi, you're Tiger Woods. Of course they don't. I don't care what people say.
He also apologized to Accenture, the sponsor who dropped him first, and the one he notably stole press from at their big Arizona PGA tour event today. Another jab?
Next year, no one but his wife is going to remember this anyway. Someone else in sports will have done something equally stupid by then.
Asking for his friends, peers, and family to one day believe in him again, Woods closed his speech and went to give a long hug to his Mother. Elin was noticeably absent from the conference.
What some of us really wanted to know is how much she is getting paid to stick around while Tiger repairs his good boy image. Maybe he'll answer that one at a later date. Speculations commence.
