Tiger Woods breaks his silence

He told a news conference in Florida: "I'm deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behaviour."

Reading from a statement, an at times emotional Woods said: "Every one of you has good reason to be critical of me."

He dismissed reports that his wife had attacked him, adding: "I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated... I'm the only person to blame."

Woods said: "I was wrong. I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules."

He added: "It's up to me to start living a life of integrity.

"It's hard to admit that I need help but I do."

He added that after therapy he was now taking the "first steps in the right direction".

Woods said he understood that people wanted to know "how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and my children".

He said: "Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused my behaviour. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words, it will come from my behaviour over time.

"We have a lot to discuss. However, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us."

He said he had let down his fans and caused worry to his business partners.