Tiger Woods is feeling the tension ahead of his return to golf after four months in self-imposed exile.
Tiger Woods is feeling the tension ahead of his return to golf after four months in self-imposed exile.
Woods, giving his first interview since the November car crash outside his home which was the trigger for a slew of revelations about his private life, is set to return to action at the Masters in Augusta on April 8.
The 14-time major winner is expected to protected from too much media intrusion at Augusta, but it is the reception from the fans that is giving the American most cause for concern.
Asked what he expected from the crowd, Woods told ESPN: "I don't know. I don't know. I'm a little nervous about that to be honest with you. It would be nice to hear a couple of claps here and there. But also hope they clap for birdies, too.
"I'm excited to get back and play. I'm excited to get to see the guys again. I really miss a lot of my friends out there. I miss competing."
Woods announced he was taking an "indefinite break" from golf in December, and two months later confessed to a number of extra-marital affairs in a lengthy statement.
The golfer talked to two sport channels on Sunday at Isleworth, the golf club near his home in Windermere, Florida, giving five-minute, one-on-one interviews to both ESPN and the Golf Channel.
Woods was hesitant when it came to discussing his affairs, saying: "Well, just one is, is enough. And obviously that wasn't the case, and I've made my mistakes.
"I've hurt so many people, and so many people I have to make amends to, and that's living a life of amends.
"I owe a lot of people an apology. I hurt a lot of people. Not just my wife. My friends, my colleagues, the public, kids who looked up to me.
"There were a lot of people that thought I was a different person and my actions were not according to that. That's why I had to apologise. I was so sorry for what I had done."
