Tiger Woods has apologised for his "irresponsible and selfish behaviour" but, during his much anticipated news conference on Friday, refused to confirm when he will return to golf.
"I do plan to return to golf but I don't know when that day will be, " said the World No1, who has been on an indefinite leave from the sport ever since stories regarding his infidelities emerged last December. "I do not rule out coming back this year."
Even if the 34-year-old does comeback in 2010, it is unlikely he will compete at the first major of the year, the US Masters, in early April.
That is because Woods, as he also said, is to immediately return for therapy for what he described as the "issues i am facing" - widely believed to be an addiction to sex. The American confirmed he has already undergone 45 days of treatment but feels he needs far more as he seeks to wreck his personal and professional life.
Speaking to a carefully selected group of "friends, colleagues and associates", Woods said: "Everyone here has good reason to be critical of me. I want to sat to you all, simply and directly, that I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behaviour.
"Elin [Woods' wife] and I have started the process of discussing my behaviour but I know my apology to her will not come in the form of words but in my behaviour over time. We have a lot to discuss and what we do say will remain between the two of us.
"My behaviour has been a personal disappointment. I have hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, friends, my foundation and all the kids around the world that admire me. I plan to make amends, never repeat the mistakes I have made and live a life of integrity."
The Woods sage begun after he crashed his car into a fire hydrant outside his Florida home in the early hours of 27 November last year.
It was reported that Woods was speeding away from his wife after she found out about his affairs and that it was as she attacked him with a golf club that he crashed.
Woods categorically denied that on Friday. "There has never been episode of domestic violence in our marriage, never," he said. "Elin has shown grace and poise throughout this ordeal, Elin deserves praise, not blame."
Woods said he felt his fame and money "entitled" him to "enjoy the temptations" around him and admitted that he now realised that was wrong.
"I knew my actions were wrong but convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply," he said. "I only thought about myself."
Woods did, though, also attack the press for "hounding" his family and in particular for following his young daughter.
"Please leave my wife and kids alone," he said. "They did not do these things, I did."
Having spoken for close to 14 minutes, and asked for the people gathered in the room to "believe in him again one day", Woods ended the conference and hugged his mother, who was sat in the front row.
© Guardian