Yesterday, golfer Tiger Woods announced he would hold his first public appearance since he confessed to unnamed “transgressions” last December.
Here is the statement: “Woods will be speaking to a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates at 11:00 a.m. EST on Friday at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Tiger plans to discuss his past and his future, and he plans to apologize for his behavior. ”
GalleyCat caught up with People journalist Steve Helling last night, getting his take on the press conference. In May 2010, Da Capo Press will publish Helling’s biography of Woods.
The journalist explained: “We can expect to see a very controlled situation where Tiger reads from a scripted statement. His agent has already told us that he will take no questions; this will be 100% rehearsed, with nothing left up to chance. Only ‘Tiger-friendly’ media will be allowed in the room; the rest of the reporters will be allowed to watch the appearance on video in a hotel ballroom a mile away.”
Helling concluded: “Tiger’s agent has promised that Tiger will be flanked by “a small group of friends, colleagues and close acquaintances.” They have declined to get more specific. We don’t know if Elin will be there; perhaps they don’t even know at this point. It would be a PR disaster to promise her attendance if she chooses to miss it. So for now, we’re not getting any specific promises.”
Tune in later today for more from Helling about his upcoming biography.