TVSpy
After months of his image appearing on tabloid covers and news chat shows, Tiger Woods finally faced the media in person on Friday morning. And the news media came out in droves to meet him.
CBS, ABC, and NBC all produced special coverage of Woods’ public address, which was broadcast live at 11am EST. Katie Couric anchored CBS’s coverage while morning hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos sat in for ABC and Matt Lauer did the same for NBC. Every cable news network carried the event as well. CNBC even posted a countdown clock leading up to the press conference.
In his speech, Woods said, “I have a lot to atone for.” He thanked fans for supporting him and said that he would seek redemption through his Buddhist faith. According to TVNewser, the press conference was filmed by two pool cameras that offered a live feed to news outlets. As the blog points out, it appeared as if the main camera feed went out during the speech as the secondary camera, offering a shot of the audience and Woods in profile, was used exclusively for the conclusion of the speech.
Few reporters were actually allowed into the press conference and Woods had strong words for the news media. “They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom,” he said of the media. “Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.” Woods’ mother was present for the speech; his wife Elin, though, did not attend.
There has been speculation in the last week over the timing of the public address. The New York Times reported on Friday morning that Woods’ speech appears to have been scheduled in alignment with a brief hiatus from his sex rehab clinic.