December 3, 2009: En-golfed in scandal

Tiger Woods apologizes for affair with L.A. waitress.

by Jeffrey Cottrill

Golf legend Tiger Woods posted a public apology for his past extramarital affairs on his website yesterday, following a week of media scrutiny about his personal life.

"I have let my family down, and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," Woods' online statement read. "I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults, and I am far short of perfect... I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves."

But Woods also expressed concern over the recent press coverage of his family troubles. "I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone," Woods wrote.

"For me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions."

More information on divorce and affairs: Online Divorce Poll Warning Signs of Infidelity Forgive Him... for Now Rebuild Trust after Betrayal Frequent Questions about Infidelity

Woods' statement came shortly after a cover story in Us Weekly publicized details about Woods' two-and-a-half-year affair with Jaimee Grubbs, a Los Angeles waitress. The magazine also released a voicemail message that Woods left with Grubbs a few days before he had a car accident outside his Windermere, Florida home early Friday morning.

The accident, which left Woods with minor facial cuts and bruises, drew attention to a National Enquirer story about an alleged affair with New York City nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel. Uchitel has denied the affair. Meanwhile, Life & Style magazine claims that Woods has had another affair with Kalika Moquin, a Las Vegas nightclub marketing manager.

Grubbs told Us Weekly that she had met Woods in April 2007 in Las Vegas, and that their affair lasted until October this year.

Woods, who will turn 34 on December 30, has been married to Swedish model Erin Nordegren for more than five years. The couple has a two-year-old daughter, Sam Alexis, and a nine-month-old son, Charlie Axel.

Tiger Woods (real name Eldrick Tont Woods) began playing golf at the age of two and went pro at 20 in 1996. He is a ten-time PGA Player of the Year and a four-time Masters winner, and he ranks third all-time in both PGA Tour and European Tour wins.

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