Final Tiger Statement-Reading Round-Up

Radaronline reported that Tiger and Elin "headed out of Orlando together early Saturday evening after playing "an hour of tennis" before wheels were up at 7 p.m.

So technically, Tiger may have been telling the truth about having to get on with his therapy:

Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I'm making these remarks today.

Bernard Gallacher took issue with Tiger's management team over the statement-reading in comments picked up by several outlets:

"He has been badly handled by his management. Badly mentored. It was the wrong timing on Friday to do it during Accenture week. It was almost a cyncial attempt to undermine the tournament.

"Tiger needs to take control of his life a bit more and get better people around him.

"He's got those sycophants around him but he's also got lawyers and PR people and he needs to kick them into touch."

Patrick Smith in the Age Australian saw a positive wake up call in Tiger's address for all athletes.

Every one of us might have a different opinion about what Tiger's real priorities were - sponsors first, family second? - but the apologies were made nonetheless. His outrage that his wife had been mentioned as striking him appeared confected and belated. He even found Buddha in his bottom drawer.

At the end his mother Kultilda seemed to miss her cue. She was prompted by the woman on her right that her son had made a slowing walk from the microphone to embrace her. The hugging could have stopped there but instead others jumped up to clasp hands and wrap their arms around him. He then disappeared behind a blue curtain as a magician's assistant might, for there was an irksome feeling of sleight of hand; of a performance more than an apology. Hopefully, he can reappear reformed.

Scott Michaux wasn't quite as convinced about the remarks or the timing.

That he's doing it at the PGA Tour's headquarters while at the same time overshadowing and undermining one of the marquee tournaments on the tour's schedule is another master stroke by a manipulator who seems to know no shame or have learned any lessons in humility.

Dropping this bombshell during the playing days of the WGC Match Play event that happens to be sponsored by Accenture -- the first company to scuttle his endorsement deal because of the scandal -- was yet another classic move by the guy who holds grudges like the Middle East.

Michaux also offers some suggestions for ways Tiger can rehab his image.

Steven A. Smith kept up his criticism of Tiger in this Philadelphia Inquirer column:

This is the price liars pay. Particularly those of the Tiger variety. You know: the kind who does something wrong and hides. Who convinces himself he's the victim. Who screeches at the media to "leave my family alone," while conveniently ignoring the fact no reporters were in attendance besides three journalists handpicked by Woods' PR team to attend - primarily because they agreed not to ask questions.

While Woods' words were predictably appropriate and contrite, everything else about his presentation, including his body language and the lack of fluidity in his words, reeked of someone desperately trying to salvage whatever was left of his stained image.

Mike Lupica leads his column with comments from another player.

This comes from another professional golfer, one who has been around the Tiger Woods scene, one who was struck by all the enablers in the room with him in Florida on Friday when he tried to explain the mess he has made of his life. This golfer watched the way we all did on Friday, a few minutes after 11 o'clock, as Woods looked into the camera and began to speak.

"I watched five minutes and then got bored," the golfer said. "It sounds like Elin (Mrs. Woods) went for the money. I hate him slightly less now, but it was way too contrived and way too late for me."

About 3:55 in, Wanda Sykes does a few Tiger jokes. Can't be good when the crowd starts laughing at the mere mention of his name.

Bill Maher (at 1:10 in) reels off several Tiger jokes.