Tiger Woods addressed several topics during his 35-minute press conference Monday at the Masters:
THE MASTERS:
``The reason why I didn't come back and play earlier ... I wasn't ready for it. I wasn't even near physically ready to play at this level, and I needed more time.''
HIS GAME:
``The fact that I haven't really played at all, that's a little bit concerning. I'm hoping I get my feel back quickly: feel for the game, feel for shots, feel more how my body is reacting and what my distances are going to be. I hope I get that back relatively quickly - maybe hopefully the first hole. But if not, please hope it's the second hole.''
WINNING:
``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. ... I did it. And I take full responsibility for it, and as I said, winning golf tournaments, I think through all of this is irrelevant compared to the damage I've caused.''
EXPECTATIONS:
``Nothing's changed, going to go out there and try to win this thing.''
HIS WIFE:
``Elin is not coming this week, no.''
PEERS:
``It's amazing how many hugs I've gotten from the guys. ... I'm actually surprised by that, how well received I've been.''
FANS:
``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. I'm looking forward to the first tee and teeing off. You know, that's getting out there and doing what I've done for a very long time and I'm looking forward to that.''
SPONSORS:
``Do I understand why they dropped me? Of course. I made a lot of mistakes in my life. And I totally understand why they would do that. And then going forward, hopefully I can prove to the other companies going forward that I am a worthy investment; that I can help their company, help their company grow and represent them well.''
GRAND SLAMS:
``It's not about championships. It's about how you live your life. And I had not done that the right way for a while, and I needed to change that. And going forward, I need to be a better man. ... If I win championships along the way, so be it.''
HIS LEGACY:
``Well, my dad - it's amazing how he says things that comes back. In order to help people, you have to first learn how to help yourself, that's what he always used to say. I never understood that. When I was in treatment, I wrote that down; I looked at it every day, and learning how to help myself, I can therefore, I can help more people going forward, infinitely more, than I did prior to all this.''
DR. ANTHONY GALEA (under investigation for alleged links to performance enhancing drugs):
``He did come to my house. He never gave me HGH or any PEDs. I've never taken that my entire life. I've never taken any illegal drug, ever, for that matter.''
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
``I've taken them, yes, I've had some, as everyone knows, pretty interesting knee situations over the years. I've had, what, four operations now on my left knee. Then last year with my torn Achilles, it hurt quite a bit at times. ... I was on the Ambien was when my dad was sick and when my dad died; that was a tough time in my life. So that's when I was still taking some of those things to help me sleep. And that's about it.''
THE CAR CRASH:
``The police investigated the accident and they cited me 166 bucks and it's a closed case. ... I had a busted-up lip and a pretty sore neck, and that was it. ... It required actually five stitches in my lip.''
REHAB:
``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.''
WHY REHAB:
``That's personal, thank you.''
