ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods took responsibility again today for the actions that led to this week’s divorce from Elin Nordegren, even acknowledging a summer of behind-the-scenes negotiations took a bigger toll than he let on.
But does he still love Elin Nordegren? You’re left to your own conclusion.
“I wish her the best in everything,” Woods said, taking his first questions since a Panama City judge dissolved the marriage on Monday.
“You know, it’s a sad time in our lives. And we’re looking forward to (rebuilding) our lives and how we can help our kids the best way we possibly can. And that’s the most important thing.”
Asked again whether he still loves his ex-wife, Woods replied: “And that’s the most important thing.”
Woods spoke with reporters at The Barclays in Paramus, N.J., hours after Nordegren broke her nine-month silence in a People magazine story, cobbled from 19 hours of interviews granted earlier this summer.
Nordegren, 30, called the months since news of Woods’ extramarital escapades were plastered across the tabloids an “emotional roller coaster.”
“I have been through the stages of disbelief and shock, to anger and ultimately grief over the loss of the family I so badly wanted for my children,” she said.
Woods responded after his pro-am round at The Barclays, the first of four FedEx Cup playoff events that lead to crowning the PGA Tour’s season-long champion. Usually a lock to play all four, he needs a decent finish this week to advance to the next stop.
Woods has just two top-10 finishes in nine events, coming at the Masters and U.S. Open. He stands a stunning 112th on the FedEx Cup points list, needing to finish among the top 50 to guarantee another week.
“At times it was difficult (to focus),” Woods said. “Certainly you try and block it out as best you can and focus on a shot. But at times it certainly was, yes.”
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