Tribune News ServicesTiger Woods spoke of his commitment to his family during an interview screened in New Zealand today that was conducted before his car crash and subsequent admission of several infidelities.
Asked in the interview "family first and golf second ... always been that way?" Woods replied: "Always. Always."
He goes on to say that having a family -- he has two young children with wife Elin Nordegren -- "has been great, actually, the best thing that ever happened."
Photo: Tiger Woods and wife Elin Nordegren (Eric Risberg/AP)
The interview was conducted on Nov. 17 -- 10 days before the
accident outside his Florida family home which prompted reports of
marital strife. The world's No. 1 golfer later admitted to liaisons
with other women.
Woods says he has applied time management skills learned at Stanford University to his dual roles as a golfer and father and had been more focused as a player since he became a family man.
"I don't practice as much as I used to. I don't spend the amount of hours on the golf course, not like I used to" he said.
"But my focus is so much more intense than it used to be. ... I know whatever I have to get done (has to be done) in a shorter amount of time."
The interview, conducted in Melbourne, Australia, where Woods was playing in the Australian Masters, was due to be aired on Christmas but New Zealand's Sky Sport moved it up after the revelations about Woods' private life.
The interview also dealt with Woods' 10-year relationship with his New Zealand-born caddie Steve Williams. Williams has denied any knowledge of Woods' extramarital relationships but has said the golfer has since confided in him.
During the interview Woods said he and Williams are "great friends".
"We talk about anything and everything together," he said.
Williams told interviewer Murray Deaker he and Woods had a relationship that was "just like a marriage really."
"The longer you go on, the more you know about one another," Williams said.
Woods said his basic values had been shaped by his mother Kultida, who was the family disciplinarian.
"You'd think Dad, being a Special Forces operator, was the tough guy. No, he was always the softie," Woods said, laughing and shaking his head. "My mom was tough."
Woods says he has applied time management skills learned at Stanford University to his dual roles as a golfer and father and had been more focused as a player since he became a family man.
"I don't practice as much as I used to. I don't spend the amount of hours on the golf course, not like I used to" he said.
"But my focus is so much more intense than it used to be. ... I know whatever I have to get done (has to be done) in a shorter amount of time."
The interview, conducted in Melbourne, Australia, where Woods was playing in the Australian Masters, was due to be aired on Christmas but New Zealand's Sky Sport moved it up after the revelations about Woods' private life.
The interview also dealt with Woods' 10-year relationship with his New Zealand-born caddie Steve Williams. Williams has denied any knowledge of Woods' extramarital relationships but has said the golfer has since confided in him.
During the interview Woods said he and Williams are "great friends".
"We talk about anything and everything together," he said.
Williams told interviewer Murray Deaker he and Woods had a relationship that was "just like a marriage really."
"The longer you go on, the more you know about one another," Williams said.
Woods said his basic values had been shaped by his mother Kultida, who was the family disciplinarian.
"You'd think Dad, being a Special Forces operator, was the tough guy. No, he was always the softie," Woods said, laughing and shaking his head. "My mom was tough."
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BEFORE MR WOODS CAME TO GOLF , THEY HAD NEVER HAD SO MANY FANS WATCHING THE GAME . ALL OF YOU SHOULD HOLD YOUR BREATH AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT WHAT TIGER WOODS HAS DONE FOR THE GAME. . YES HE MADE A TERRIABLE MISTAKE . BEFORE YOU BURRY HIM GIVE HIM A CHANCE . TIGER NEEDS TO CALL ON HIS BLACK BROTHER'S , HE CAN GET THROUGH THIS .. KEEP THE FAITH TIGER..
Jhop...nobody is hating on Tiger but Tiger himself. He supposed to know better than to put his personal business out in the open. This is what happens to people in high profile cases. Evidently he thought he was above the law and because of his money he would never get caught.It's just crazy the way men thinks. Now i understand why men are from mars. The thought process say's coo-coo..coo-coo!!! I just hope that his wife can get over the embarrasment of it all. I was just wondering...Are all married men cheating?????????
Easy, you call the Tiger haters hypocrites, but you excuse the #1 hypocrite, Tiger himself, the man who pledged fidelity to his wife but cheated on her the night before the wedding and then all throughout the short 5 years they've been married so far.
You're probably a golf freak loser who has no idea how to cope now that your god has revealed himself to be human.
I pray that you're not married.
I'm as disgusted by the Tiger apologists as I am by Tiger himself. What's wrong with these little boys? If they want to screw lots of women, all they need to do is stay single! How hard is that to figure out? (knocking on their empty heads)
Jhop, the mistresses have plenty of evidence. They've all got phone and text messages. Some have compromising photos. How much of that evidence will be released depends on how much $$$$ Tiger is willing to shell out. Hopefully some of the mistresses can't be bought. They're pissed, each one thought she was special and then found out she was just a dime-a-dozen ho to Tiger. Payback is h*ll.
you all that are hating on him were really just finding a reason to hate on tiger and run with it. of all these "women" stating they have had an affair with him have absolutely nothing to prove it... how did he go this long without anything to prove it... exactly no one knows and i guarantee it is mostly females that jump on that wagon too. it is really irritating me. he is still the best athlete ever so shut the f*ck up you loser pieces of s**t.
I think all you are full of it! If you've never been there then how would you know. How dare any of you speak out against Tiger. All this shows is that He's human. All you Hypocrites! Those without sin, go ahead...cast the first stone! You all kill me. The media had to keep digging until they found something to bring this man down. They couldn't stand it. Tiger was standing too tall. Hang in there Tiger. You'll be back. As for your wife, I hope the best for you and that you get things back together. As for all you women, you're just as much to blame. You knew he was married, but, I bet you thought about what you all could get out of the deal. What a shame. I hope you all burn in hell!
I know of a woman here ho, I mean who, is a (prostitute) person who receives money for flesh acts. Oh, my. Her name is Rachel. She got over a $1,000,000 and lives near me.
This is someone different than the woman who Joy Behar (sp?) on the view was forced to apologize to.
"Family first --- Golf Second" ????
No Tiger....you are lying.
For you it has been "Women First, Golf Second, Family third"
You created this mess......you have nobody to blame but yourself.
Family values - and lying through your teeth - nice combintation Tiger - please just go away