I asked Kevin Hogan, a renowned Body Language Expert (he made his name by getting right that Clinton was lying about Monica) what he thought of Tiger's statemnet. This is his reply to me.
his apology was sincere. that doesn't exonerate previous behavior, nor does it predict future behavior
looking into his mothers eyes, he was ashamed of himself and clearly sorry for causing the mess
his family was experiencing
So we know he was sorry but will he change his ways? The fact that he has to go back for treatment suggests this is a bigger problem than we may have believed.
I was reading over at Geoff Shackleford today and this is what Dan Jenkins wrote a few weeks back, again, I think he is right on the money:
Life as Tiger has known it is over. His reputation is ruined, possibly forever. His name that once meant mastery over competitive golf now invokes cringes, giggles and all the Internet jokes you want to pass along.
Sure, he can come back and even win again, if he man's up, but if he does he will only be a hero to the "you-da-man" and "get-in-the-hole" crowd. And I can't imagine him coming back as a "humbled man." That wouldn't be the owner of a yacht insultingly named Privacy, the guy the press has still slobbered over for these past 12 years.
__________________ The student senses his teacher’s steadfast belief and quiet resolve: “This is doable. It is doable by you. The pathway is there. All you need is determination and time.” And together, they make it happen.
He seemed sincere to me too, but I don't think he knows what he's up against. Tiger is "spoiled" with the ability to learn every trick in golf and invent some new. But changing personality and life style is much harder than changing the golf swing.
I don't share the pessimistic view about his future though. If he pulls it off he will get a better life outside the course. People will respect him as they used to and love him even more. But this will not happen overnight, and it is not a given that he succeeds either.
I watched it and was terribly uncomfortable throughout.
It reminded me of a high school student trying to give a speech on something that he had rehearsed, just didn't quite pull it off for the A, but the teacher appreciated the fact that he made the effort.
When I think of how insulated this fellow has become over the past 15 years I cannot help but wonder about some basic trust issues that may require a great deal of work to get resolved. Other areas of development are all based on basic trust. This could be a very long process and there is the possibility we may not see him in competition for quite some time.
I was bothered this summer when I saw him with his caddy on a practice day at the PGA. When other players would hob nob between shots and have some give and take around the short game practice area, Tiger and Steve were alone. Other players made effort at some social banter with him, but Tiger's responses were terse and cut off further discussion.
I really think there is much more underlying all of this and hope he can come through this as a human being. Golf is of very little importance at this point.
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