I have started finding strength and peace- Tiger Woods:

Excerpts from the Tiger Woods’ press conference here on Monday in the build-up to The Masters which starts on Thursday:

Introductory comments

Tiger Woods:

I didn’t know what to expect with regards to the reception, and I tell you what, the galleries couldn’t be nicer. I mean, it was just incredible. The encouragement that I got... it blew me away to be honest with you.

I would also like to I guess make another little comment before we start.

I know that the players over the past few months have been bombarded with questions by all of you and the public, as well, and I would like to tell all of the players, hopefully after today, after answering questions at this press conference, the players can be left alone to focus on the Masters and focus on their game, not only for this week, but going forward, as well. And certainly apologize to all of them for having to endure what they have had to endure the past few months.

A lot has happened in my life over the past five months, and I’m here at the Masters to play and compete.

Question:

What’s been the most difficult thing for you to deal with these past few months, and how have you dealt with it?

Tiger Woods:

Well, probably two things. I think one - having to look at myself in a light that I never wanted to look at myself; that was difficult.

How far astray I got from my core fundamentals and the core morals that my mom and dad taught me; and having to break all that down, and as I said in the interview, with all of the denial and rationalization; to cut through that, I had to really take a hard look at myself. And that’s what I started finding strength and peace.

And the other is the the other difficult part I think over the past few months has just been the constant harassment to my family. My wife and kids being photographed everywhere they go; being badgered, that’s tough.

That’s tough on them, because it’s really hard for us to heal and try and get through this as best we can.

Question:

You said in February that when you returned to the game that you wanted to show more respect for the game; in what way are we going to see sort of differences out there between the ropes and outside the ropes?

Tiger Woods:

Yeah, great question. I’m actually going to try and obviously not get as hot when I play. But then again, when I’m not as hot, I’m not going to be as exuberant, either. I can’t play one without the other, and so I made a conscious decision to try and tone down my negative outbursts and consequently I’m sure my positive outbursts be will calmed down, as well. Just trying to be more respectful of the game and acknowledge the fans like I did today.

Question:

You won a lot of golf tournaments over the last five years living a completely secret life; how were you able to do that? And secondly, do you feel what kind of golfer do you feel you’ll be now going forward without having this secret?

Tiger Woods:

Well, I think how I was earlier in my career, I was at peace, and I’ve had some great years. Unfortunately what I’ve done over the past years has been just terrible to my family. And the fact I won golf tournaments I think is irrelevant. It’s the pain and the damage that I’ve caused, you know, my wife, my mom, my wife’s family; my kids going forward - I’m going to have to explain all of this to them.

Question:

What were you anticipating today to be like for you and how nervous are you sitting here?

Tiger Woods:

Sitting here, not that nervous, no. As far as getting out there, I was definitely more nervous. That first tee, I didn’t know what to expect, I really didn’t. It’s one of those things where I’ve never been in this position before. To be out there in front of the people where I have done some things that are just horrible, and you know, for the fans to really want to see me play golf again, I mean, that felt great, that really did.

Question:

How is your knee, and does it still give you pain on a daily, weekly, monthly basis?

Tiger Woods:

You know, my knee feels great. The only time it doesn’t feel good is when a front comes through; that’s when most people realize it, arthritis in there when you get a little older. But other than that, it feels great.

It’s strong. It’s explosive again, which is great, and now my Achilles is good now, so I’m training like I used to years ago.

Question:

You said earlier that you were in some form of a rehab; can you talk about are you still in rehab and what you were in there for?

Tiger Woods:

Yeah, I was in there for 45 days and it was to take a hard look at myself, and I did, and I’ve come out better. I’m certainly a much better person for it than I was going in.

Does that mean I’m ever going to stop doing that? No. I’ve got to still continue with my treatment. And that’s going forward. That’s not going to sorry, that’s not going to stop in the near future for sure.

Question:

What’s that for?

Tiger Woods:

That’s personal, thank you.

Question:

When you made that statement in February you gave the impression that you might not even come back this year; that you might be out for a long time.

Did you genuinely believe that at the time and coming back was that entirely your decision and with the blessing of your family and your wife?

Tiger Woods:

When I gave my speech in February, I had no intentions of playing golf in the near future at all. I just had barely started practicing two days prior to that. That was the first time I hit balls.

And then I started hitting more balls and more balls and more balls and I started getting the itch again to start playing again (smiling). And Hank came down and we started working again and that felt great. It felt like old times.

Question:

There was a four week lapse between the accident and when you entered therapy. When did you make that decision that this was something you were going to have to deal with rather than just push it into the background?

Tiger Woods:

Well, probably just prior to Christmas I made the decision to enter rehab. And having spent Christmas Day with my family was just incredible and then having to go off from there into treatment; that was a very difficult time, because what people probably don’t realize is that because of the time frame of it, I missed my son’s first birthday.

And that hurts. That hurts a lot. I vowed I would never miss another one after that. I can’t go back to where I was. I want to be a part of my son’s life and my daughter’s life going forward and I missed his first birthday. I mean, that was very hard that day and something I regret and I probably will for the rest of my life.

Question:

Do you feel the same way about your pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’s records, about winning golf tournaments, or does that have to take a different perspective now considering what happened in November?

Tiger Woods:

You know, when I went through that period when my father was sick and my father passed away, it put things in perspective real quick.

And when my kids were born, again, it put it in perspective. And then what I’ve done here, it puts it in perspective; it’s that it’s not about championships. It’s about how you live your life.

Question:

Golf wise, what are your expectations this week?

Tiger Woods:

Nothing’s changed, going to go out there and try to win this thing. (Smiling).

AUGUSTA, Georgia, Wednesday AFP