Tiger Talks: The Press Conference Heard Around the World

After months of silence, scandal and a 45-day stint of in-patient sex addiction therapy, Tiger Woods addressed the media, his family, fans and business partners in a live televised statement from the PGA headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

In the tightly-managed and controlled event, Woods spoke to a small, hand-picked group of reporters, friends, and family; those of whom included his mother sitting in the front row.

In a prepared and carefully scripted statement, Woods apologized to his fans and supporters saying, "I want to say to each of you simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in."

Woods showed glimpses of rare emotion throughout the 14-minute speech, speaking through pursed lips and with glazed eyes as he acknowledged and admitted his infidelities by saying, "I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable and I am the only person to blame."

Woods addressed rumors that his wife, Elin, may have hit or beat him on Thanksgiving night in the early morning hours leading up to his car crash and subsequent scandal. He vehemently denied any claims of spousal abuse saying, "Elin has never hit me, that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever." Woods praised his wife for how she has handled herself through the trying times, "Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame."

Woods also made a point to dismiss the rumors of any involvement with performance-enhancing drugs saying, "Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false."

Woods took responsibility for his indiscretions and placed the burden of blame on his shoulders alone. He placed importance on the understanding of his family and a return to his Buddhist upbringing.

Woods pleaded with the media to leave his wife and children alone and condemned members of the press for hounding his family, as well as publishing the location of his daughter's school.

The ten-time PGA player of the year put no definitive timeline on his return to the golf course saying, "I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don't know when that day will be." For the time being, Woods will return to therapy and treatment, not the links.

Woods did not take any questions from the media, which drew some fire and led several reporters from the golf association to boycott the press conference, not wanting to play by Wood's rules.