Tiger may not have answered any questions, but his mother did — here are her remarks:
You know what? Im so proud to be his mother. Period. This thing, it teaches him, just like golf. When he changes a swing¦ he wants to get better¦ He will start getting better¦ its just like that. Golf is just like life, when you make a mistake, you learn from your mistake and move on stronger. Thats the way he is.
As a human being everyone has faults, makes mistakes and sins. We all do. But, we move on when we make a mistake and learn from it. I am upset the way media treated him like hes a criminal¦he didnt kill anybody, he didnt do anything illegal¦ Theyve being carrying on from thanksgiving until now, thats not right! she said
People dont understand that Tiger has a very good heart and soul, she said, citing the role of his foundation in helping kids and also in Thailand. Sometimes I think there is a complete double standard¦ He tried to improve himself.
The tabloids and newspapers just killed him, held him back.. To me it looked like a double standard¦”
Is it the hardest thing hell ever go through? Yes¦ When you make a mistake you learn from it and move on, thats the way life is, thats a human being. We’re not good, and he never claimed he was God. If anyone tells me to condemn him, I say look at yourself first.. .. I would ¦ look in their eyes and tell them youre not God!
What are your emotions? Upset¦ This thing is a family matter¦ Its not easy to be him. ¦ (People) go to work 8 to 5 and go home to have a life with the family. Tiger cant do that. You have to look at human side, human make mistake, he not God.
How will Buddhism help? Buddhism teaches you to go deep inside your soul and look through from himself, and correct the bad thing to be a good thing¦ When he realized, he said okay, and went back to practice Buddhism and that will make him a much better person¦
Tim Finchem, of the PGA
I thought it was a good step. I thought he did a very good job of communicating the way he thought and what he thinks about where he is¦. Its good that hes taking this step as a way to return to public life, and I certainly thought that it was an effective step.
What of his return to golf? Were supportive of whenever he comes back, whether its three weeks from now, or three months from now, thats less important than when he comes back, hes prepared to play to resume his career in a positive way so that hes there for the long haul.
“I dont know when he is going to return, I think the important thing is that ¦ he is prepared to play. As he has indicated, he needs to make progress with these issues until a level that he is comfortable with.
How is the tour doing with him? Hes been out before, he was out when his father passed away a few years ago, he was out with his injury in 2008. ¦ Obviously in the tournaments he plays in obviously that increases the revenue significantly, plus theres this intangible ¦ hes the number one player in the game, and it just brings a lot of attention to the sport to have the number one player involved, whether hes playing that particular week or not, but when hes on the sidelines thats a negative. But were performing well, as well as we did in 08 when he was out with his injuries.
Notah Begay, PGA golfer and friend of Tigers from Stanford days.
It was just a heartfelt apology to so many different people¦ I was emotional and got a little choked up. Any time you see a good friend kind of suffering and taking on a tremendous amount of responsibility and having to be held accountable for actions that nobody would condone or approve, but at the same time its a matter that should be handled privately between him and his wife.
How much does Begay expect him to change?
“It’s a little bit harder than making a swing change.”
“The sincerity of his remarks and the thoughtfulness in his message was very apparent.”
How serious is he about remaking his life?
Its tough to get any man in America just to go marriage counseling let alone go into a 45-day rehabilitation. Plus hes going back tomorrow, and that tells me that hes trying to learn about the issues. ¦ Hes trying to learn about the though processes that caused the actions, so that he can cut them off next time.
A bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Robert Thompson has been writing about business and sports, and particularly golf, for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary on golf has appeared in 
Thank God for Mothers!!
and Nike.