After Divorce, Tiger Woods Rebuilds His Image

Almost one year after the fateful car accident that ruined his image--and his marriage--Tiger Woods is entering a rebuilding phase, according his Op Ed today in Newsweek.

He writes:

This much is obvious now: my life was out of balance, and my priorities were out of order. I made terrible choices and repeated mistakes. I hurt the people whom I loved the most. And even beyond accepting the consequences and responsibility, there is the ongoing struggle to learn from my failings. At first, I didn't want to look inward. Frankly, I was scared of what I would find--what I had become. But I'm grateful that I did examine my life because it has made me more grounded than I've ever been; I hope that with reflection will come wisdom.

Wood's divorce was finalized in August, and last month Radar Online revealed Elin's whopping $110 million settlement.

The notoriously private golfer also joined the Twitter-verse Wednesday with his first personal tweet since the account was activated in June 2009. "What's up everyone. Finally decided to try out twitter!" he Tweeted at 11:08 a.m.

Within an hour, Woods acquired up 30,000 followers. Sensing skeptics, he followed with another tweet several hours later. "Yep, it's me. I think I like this twitter thing. You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the love."

Though thankful for his fans as he moves forward, Woods notes that others still wish to capitalize on his mistakes.

I have a lasting gratitude to those who stood by me in ways large and small. Unfortunately, opportunists are trying still to cash in on my troubles, no matter how irresponsible or ridiculous their claims may be.

Comments

[MaryJane Colorado]

01:35 PM on 11/19/2010

If Michael Vick can salvage his career and image, anyone can. At least Tiger didn't torture and kill any dogs.

[Terri Weiss]

03:01 AM on 11/18/2010

This is not Tiger speaking spontaneously, but the start of an orchestrated effort by his PR people to show a warmer, remorseful Tiger en route to a rehabilitated career. Ordinarily it's always a good idea to face negative facts head-on,; i.e., go on the offense to avoid being on the defense.

But Tiger is far from an ordinary public personality on the mend. His misconduct was so extreme, so polarizing, so 'in-your-face,' and so inconsistent with his carefully-wrought image that the usual strategy so obviously being employed here makes no sense. Dredging up the past like this makes him sound as 'opportunistic' and calculating as those he criticizes. It's almost like he's saying, "Hey everyone, remember how humiliating my life has been lately, and can you pay lots of attention to me again so I can get my endorsements back?"

I think Tiger should move on at this point: Say nothing more about his misdeeds (as if the rest of the world hasn't totally maxxed out on all of it) -- Just PLAY GOLF and start winning again. And from now on, run his personal life with the dignity, self-respect and self-control that behooves a public figure of his stature so he can earn back the respect (and the endorsements) he has lost.

[kellygreen]

09:46 AM on 11/19/2010

If Woods is indeed sex-addicted, being willing to speak openly about how his life fell off the rails is an integral part of putting his life back together...and keeping it together.

Walking around as if he had a "scarlet A" sewed onto his chest is exactly how one winds up right back IN the dark pit that he's seems to be trying to climb out of.

Though we, the public, may have the luxury of putting our heads down and hoping it all goes away...

...he does not. He has to live it every day.

[Terri Weiss]

03:39 AM on 11/21/2010

kellygreen, I'm not suggesting an alteration in his addition therapy, if that's what this really is. (If it is, I agree with you.) But since he's in a unique position as a major public figure who lost some HUGE endorsements (vs. the average, unknown, non-celebrity addict), I think it might be naive to assume that's his Twitttering is just part of his personal rehabilitation/therapy - or that it's even his, at least, spontaneously.
And from a PR standpoint, keeping his public comments focused on his future rather than his past would, IMHO, be more beneficial to his professional future, which is what I'm addressing. Unless he's planning on helping the public by forming a foundation a la Michael J Fox, or addiction clinic a la Betty Ford, I fail to see how his public comments are benefiting anyone.

[tombizodwa]

08:46 PM on 11/17/2010

Why is Tiger bringing this up again? I had forgotten about it. Some much has happened since then, including cheating scandals, divorces etc. by other celebrities. He needs to move on than be the headlines of tabloids!

[Quincy Miller]

04:52 PM on 11/18/2010

So much has happened for US, but you have to remember, this is HIS life. For us it's a return to Tiger's old issues, but Tiger has never left them. He had a family, and he broke it. That has to be devastating to anyone with tiny bit of heart. He lives in the public eye, therefore his healing process, at least part of it, will happen publicly.

[kellygreen]

09:47 AM on 11/19/2010

Because its part of figuring out what "normal" is for him.

His father, apparently, was a womanizer as well...and like a kid who grew up with alcoholics for parents...he now has to figure out what a normal life real is like as an adult.

[HazMat5]

07:43 PM on 11/17/2010

surely there's enough relevant content without recourse to the asinine soap opera that is Mr. Woods
it only took a week for HuffPo's newest section to fall this far?

[Hellooo]

06:50 PM on 11/17/2010

I'm still a fan of your golf game. I fully expect you to put your lifetime of training to the best use. Your skill is an inspiration to anyone who's willing to put in the time and practice to reach a goal.

[sjcarl]

05:51 PM on 11/17/2010

I will never be a fan again.

[HealthSolutions]

06:47 PM on 11/17/2010

that's ok!

[alexunlv]

06:51 PM on 11/17/2010

Nobody cares.