Golf

FOX Sports Exclusive

Woods: I've let my family down

Share This Story

foxsports admin

 
Updated Dec 3, 2009 2:13 AM ET
     
 
Tiger Woods said he let his family down with transgressions he regrets "with all of my heart," and that he will deal with his personal life behind closed doors.

Time to pay?

Elin Woods Columnist Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times is citing a source who says the following: That Tiger's wife Elin will be getting a hefty seven-figure payoff straight into her bank account; that she is demanding a total rewrite of their prenuptial agreement; and that the couple has entered into "intense" counseling.
His statement Wednesday follows a cover story in Us Weekly magazine that reports a Los Angeles cocktail waitress claims she had a 31-month affair with the world's No. 1 golfer. "I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves," Woods said on his Web site. "I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone." The cocktail waitress, Jaimee Grubbs, told the magazine she met Woods at a Las Vegas nightclub the week after the 2007 Masters — two months before Woods' wife, Elin, gave birth to their first child. Grubbs claims to have proof in 300 text messages. About three hours before Woods' statement, Us Weekly published what it said was a voicemail — provided by Grubbs — that Woods left her phone on Nov. 24, three days before his middle-of-the-night car crash outside his home in Florida. Another woman rumored to have been in an affair with Woods, Rachel Uchitel, scheduled a press conference Thursday. Attorney Gloria Allred said in a statement released late Wednesday that she will make a statement about Uchitel's relationship with Woods. Allred says Uchitel will be present at the news conference but will not speak. Last week, the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing Uchitel, a New York nightclub hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters. Uchitel has previously denied having an affair with Woods. Woods did not offer details of any alleged relationship. "I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves," Woods said. "For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology." Woods has been subjected to more media scrutiny over the last week than when he first won the Masters in 1997 and set off the first wave of Tigermania. He has spoken only three times through his Web site, although this was his longest posting. "Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means," Woods said. "For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives." And he continued to say accounts that physical violence played a role in his Friday morning car crash were "utterly false and malicious." "Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect," he wrote. His statement came one day after the Florida Highway Patrol closed its investigation into the accident — without Woods ever speaking to state troopers. He was charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 fine and four points on his driving record. A final report on the accident, released Wednesday, shows he caused $3,200 in damage to property other than his SUV. The six-page report by the Florida Highway Patrol also included 105 photos of the accident scene. It estimated damage to a fire hydrant Woods struck at $3,000, and a tree his vehicle hit at about $200. The story soon shifted from a patrol investigation to sordid allegations into his personal life. In the voicemail released by the magazine, a man says to Grubbs: "Hey, it's, uh, it's Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Um, can you please, uh, take your name off your phone. My wife went through my phone. And, uh, may be calling you. If you can, please take your name off that and, um, and what do you call it just have it as a number on the voicemail, just have it as your telephone number. That's it, OK. You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right. Bye." The Associated Press could not confirm Woods was the caller. Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, did not immediately return an e-mail requesting comment. An AP reporter went to a residence in Escondido, Calif., seeking comment from Grubbs. A person who identified himself as Cody came to the door but didn't open it, said she wasn't there. When asked whether Us Weekly paid Grubbs for her story, spokeswoman Cheryl Crowley said, "As a policy, we do not comment on obtaining stories or photo transactions." Grubbs wasn't the only woman to allege an affair with Woods. Reports in Life & Style magazine and the New York Post said a woman named Kalika Moquin had also come forward. The magazine, quoting an associate of Moquin's, said that Woods "wasn't happy in his marriage or his home life and that there was just so much pressure on him." "They've hooked up a bunch of times" over the months, the source said of Woods and Moquin. "Tiger told Kalika that married life isn't all it's built up to be."
downlevel description
This video requires the Adobe Flash Player. Download a free version of the player.
Another source told the Post that Moquin and Woods have been an item "for some time." Woods, meanwhile, remained in seclusion in the exclusive gated community of Isleworth, while some of the world's top golfers were in Southern California preparing for the start of a tournament he hosts. Woods, citing injuries from the crash, issued a statement Monday saying he would not attend or play in the Chevron World Challenge. Woods, who was briefly unconscious after the crash, never spoke with investigators, who asked to see him on three different occasions. Instead, he provided his driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, as required by Florida law. The patrol "is not pursuing criminal charges in this matter nor is there any testimony or other evidence to support any additional charges of any kind other than the charge of careless driving," said Sgt. Kim Montes, a spokesman for the highway patrol. "Despite the celebrity status of Mr. Woods, the Florida Highway Patrol has completed its investigation in the same professional manner it strives to complete each traffic investigation." After consulting with the local prosecutor's office, investigators also decided there was insufficient evidence to issue a subpoena that would have given them access to records from his hospital visit after the crash, Montes said.
The National Enquirer story about Uchitel came out just two days before Woods wrecked his SUV in the early morning hours following Thanksgiving. The accident — and Woods' refusal to answer questions — fueled speculation among tabloids and gossip Web sites about a possible dispute between Woods and his wife, who told police she used a golf club to smash the back windows of the SUV to help him out. But Montes said there were "no claims of domestic violence by any individual" stemming from the accident. And an attorney for the neighbors who called 911 said Woods did not appear to be driving under the influence and showed no signs of having been in a fight. Attorney Bill Sharpe said neighbors found Nordegren kneeling beside her husband, upset about his injuries. Sharpe said Woods appeared woozy and had scratches on his face and that his wife was trying to console him. But Woods remained the subject of intense media scrutiny, and the Us Weekly report didn't help his appeal for privacy. According to Us Weekly, Grubbs said she was 21 when she was approached by Woods at a Las Vegas nightclub on April 13, 2007. The magazine said the meeting "progressed into a clandestine on-and-off affair" that lasted nearly three years and included hundreds of texts. "I hope he can forgive me for doing this and I know he probably can't," Grubbs is quoted as saying. "Whatever happens with Elin, I hope Tiger and I can reconnect and remain good friends." Grubbs recently appeared on VH1's reality series, "Tool Academy." The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More Stories From foxsports admin

World Golf Tour


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

GOLF Videos

Lusetich: AT&T Rd. 3 recap Posted: Feb 12, 2012
Robert Lusetich recaps Rd. 3 of the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach.

Tiger Woods 13: Legacy mode Posted: Feb 09, 2012
Tiger Woods talks about the new 'legacy mode' in Tiger Woods 13.

Hate to be Rude: Bubba Watson Posted: Feb 10, 2012
Golfweek's Jeff Rude talks with PGA Tour veteran Bubba Watson.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    adidas Jeremy Lin New York Knicks Replica Jersey - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/812364/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_812000/ff_812364_xl.jpg&w=100 59.95 adidas Jeremy Lin New York Knicks Replica Jersey - Royal Blue
    Mitchell & Ness Los Angeles Lakers #8 Kobe Bryant Gold Authentic Throwback Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/124407/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_124000/FF_124407_xl.jpg&w=100 259.95 Mitchell & Ness Los Angeles Lakers #8 Kobe Bryant Gold Authentic Throwback Baske..
    adidas Milwaukee Bucks #22 Michael Redd White Home Swingman Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Milwaukee_Bucks/browse/featuredproduct/141061/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_141000/FF_141061_xl.jpg&w=100 29.99 adidas Milwaukee Bucks #22 Michael Redd White Home Swingman Jersey
    adidas San Antonio Spurs Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Antonio_Spurs/browse/featuredproduct/172441/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172441_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas San Antonio Spurs Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/172442/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172442_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/173567/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173567_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Atlanta Hawks #15 Al Horford Navy Blue Road Swingman Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Atlanta_Hawks/browse/featuredproduct/178055/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178055_xl.jpg&w=100 49.99 adidas Atlanta Hawks #15 Al Horford Navy Blue Road Swingman Basketball Jersey
    adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo Long Sleeve T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/179331/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_179000/DS_179331_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo Long Sleeve T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics #5 Kevin Garnett Green Road Swingman Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/182418/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_182000/FF_182418_xl.jpg&w=100 59.99 adidas Boston Celtics #5 Kevin Garnett Green Road Swingman Basketball Jersey