LOS ANGELES: The fallout continued Saturday for Tiger Woods who says he will step away from the sport to try and fix the damage his infidelity has done to his relationship with his wife and family.
Woods said he was taking an “indefinite break” from the PGA Tour and apologized, pleading for forgiveness and vowing to become a better husband to his wife, Elin, and father to his two young children.
“It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try,” Woods wrote Friday on his website. “I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children.” Woods, who has not been seen in public for the past two weeks, has a two-year-old daughter and a 10-month-old son with Elin.
“After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father and person,” he added.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Friday they would not attempt to rush Wood into returning to the sport.
“His priorities are where they need to be, and we will continue to respect and honor his family’s request for privacy,” Finchem said. “We look forward to Tiger’s return to the PGA Tour when he determines the time is right for him.”
Ten women have been romantically linked to the billionaire golfer, whose private life has come under the glare of public scrutiny since he crashed his car in late November.
Woods was taken to hospital on Nov. 27 after hitting a fire hydrant and a tree, two days after a tabloid reported he was having an affair with New York club hostess Rachel Uchitel.
Woods, who turns 34 on Dec. 30, was first linked to Uchitel, who has denied the affair.
Cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, 24, played a voicemail, which she claims to be Woods talking, to support her claim they had a 31-month relationship.
Also on a list compiled by FOX News are porn star Holly Sampson, 36; Kalika Moquin, 27, a Las Vegas club manager; model Jamie Jungers, 26; Mindy Lawton, a 33-year-old waitress from Orlando; and three unidentified women, two from British reports and another waitress from Orlando.
“I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness,” Woods wrote.
“Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.” Australian golfer Craig Parry said Woods needs times to do some soul searching.
“What he did was totally wrong,” Parry said during a tournament in Australia. “And he’s got no one to blame except himself. You can look at other people, but he’s the one who’s got to look in the mirror.” American John Daly knows as well as anyone what Woods is going through. Daly has been divorced twice. “I feel if there is anybody in this world who could give him some advice ...” Daly said in Australia. “I hope we get him back soon. They always say there is no one bigger in golf than the game itself. But Tiger is.” Woods usually does not start his season until the former Buick Invitational in San Diego at the end of January so if he takes an “indefinite” leave it could be some time before he tees it up again. He had knee surgery last year and spent eight months recovering.
Television ratings dropped 50 percent with Woods minus from the Tour. It is not known if he will be ready to return in time for the first major of the season The Masters tournament on April 8-11.
PGA golfer Jesper Parnevik reiterated to ESPN that he made a mistake in linking up Woods with his former nanny and current wife, Elin.
Elin Nordegren previously worked for Parnevik and in 2001 she met Woods through he and his wife Mia.
“I vouched for the guy,” Parnevik told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” show which airs Sunday night. “I told her this is the guy that I think is everything you want. I was wrong.
“I am sure she felt very lonely and very small in the whole hoopla and chaos when her world was turned upside down.” American golfer John Cook calls Woods a close friend and says he is sticking by his pal.
“He put himself in this position,” Cook told ESPN television. “It is disappointing but he has admitted to it and he is dealing with it.”
Woods earned an estimated $118 million last year in prize money and endorsements.
According to Forbes business magazine, Woods is the first athlete to have broken through the billion dollars earnings mark.
The sporting icon has won 14 major championships and he counts Nike, Gillette, AT and T, Accenture and Tag Heuer among his sponsors.
Woods’ endorsements seem to be safe for now but Accenture did drop an image of him from its website this week.
The dropped photo showed Woods getting set to play a shot amid a forest of cactus plants.
