6 Apr 2010

Woods sets his sights on winning back fans

2:53 pm on 6 April 2010

An outwardly remorseful Tiger Woods has set his sights on winning back golf fans before a fifth green jacket as he faced a suspicious media and a sceptical public in his Augusta comeback today.

The four-times Masters champion played his first public golf since his fall from grace at the end of last year amid revelations about extra-marital affairs.

After hiding for almost five months, Woods claims he was less nervous confronting the media than the large galleries.

During the 35-minute question and answer session Woods fielded a wide range of questions, politely refusing to answer some and side-stepping others.

The 14-times major winner discussed undergoing 45 days of treatment in a rehabilitation centre but refused to reveal for what addiction.

He admitted to receiving treatment for injuries from a Canadian doctor, under investigation for smuggling performance-enhancing drugs but insists he's never taken illegal drugs.

Woods revealed that his wife Elin would not be making a Masters appearance but provided few other details about the state of their marriage or the bizarre late night car accident outside his own home in Florida in November.