Tiger Woods has publicly apologised for his 'infidelity' and announced he will be taking a break from his professional golf career.
The 33-year-old posted a message on his official website confirming his affairs and admitted he is 'profoundly sorry' for the hurt he has caused wife Elin Nordegren.
Tiger, who previously had only referred to 'transgressions', wrote: 'I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children.
'I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.'
'I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding.
'What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.
'After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.
'Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.'
The golfer was left unconscious and bleeding following the crash in which he hit a fire hydrant and a neighbour's tree following a reported 2am argument with Elin.
It was later claimed Tiger was admitted to hospital with a suspected drugs overdose after the crash.
Elin is said to have given paramedics two bottles of drugs Ambien and Vicodin as they travelled to the hospital.
Yesterday, Hollywood madam Michelle Braun claimed Tiger spent over £37,000 on call girls.
She says she sent four of her escorts on pay-for-sex dates with the sportsman, who 'liked girl-on-girl. He had sex with them together'.
She added: 'He was rarely with just one girl. He usually wanted more. He liked three-ways. He could go for days.
'He would pay a flat rate for an evening, but an evening would usually be extended. The girls would always talk about his stamina.'
Tiger's mother-in-law Barbro Holmberg was rushed to hospital last week after a reported anxiety attack following an argument with the sportsman over his alleged affairs.
Tiger and Elin, who were introduced by Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik at the Open Championship in 2001, married in Barbados in October 2004.
Last week Jesper opened up: 'I really feel sorry for Elin – since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him.
'We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologise to her.'
Earlier this week it was claimed Elin had given Tiger an ultimatum, and told him to choose either her or golf.
She was said to be prepared to give their relationship another go if he gave up his beloved game.
However, photographs of a moving truck leaving the marital home packed with five or six large boxes has fuelled rumours that the couple are taking a break from each other.
Elin has been living at the £1.7million mansion in Windermere, Florida, with the couple's children for the past two weeks, but Tiger has not been seen at the property. It is believed he is staying somewhere nearby.
Meanwhile, Tiger's recent problems have started to affect some of his professional relationships.
While Gatorade said their decision to discontinue their soft drink Tiger Focus recently had nothing to do with the revelations, another of his sponsors Accenture have made the decision to remove a picture of Tiger with caption 'It's what you do next that counts' from their website homepage.
Other sponsors, including Pepsi, Gillette and Proctor and Gamble, were said to be meeting to discuss whether they should continue working with Tiger.
