GOLF

The much anticipated return of Tiger Woods to competitive golf finally has a date set and it will be April 8 at the Masters.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Woods declared that he would return from his leave of absence at Augusta National Golf Club. Woods has never missed the year’s first major as a professional golfer.

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta," Woods said in a statement.

Michael Jordan has reached a deal to buy the Charlotte Bobcats and he isn’t wasting any time trying to help the team continue on the right path and make the playoffs. Jordan got hands-on at the Bobcats’ shootaround on Monday, even participating in a game of H-O-R-S-E with Gerald Henderson.

Tiger Woods spoke on Friday 11 a.m. eastern at the TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour in Ponte Verda Beach, FL. Below is Woods’ speech in its entirety.

TIGER WOODS: Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me or you've worked with me or you've supported me.

Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.

Golfer Tiger Woods Friday made his first public statement since the Thanksgiving car accident. Woods spoke at the TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour in Ponte Verda Beach, FL.

The world’s most renowned golfer was truly sorry and moving with his remarks as he spoke for almost 14 minutes from the club house. About 40 people were present in the room when Woods spoke, including him mother Kultida, but his wife Elin was absent at the event.

“I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you,” he said. “I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position. I have a lot to atone for.

Golfer Tiger Woods has mentioned he will be speaking to a select few that includes a small group of friends, close associates and colleagues Friday at 11 a.m. eastern time at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Woods intends to talk about his past, which has been in the media through all forms and platforms, an apology for his behavior and his future, one which golf would be more interested in.

Serena Williams has once again established herself as the best player in women’s tennis in 2009 after being voted the Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.

"We can attribute the strength and the growth of women's tennis a great deal to her," WTA chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said in a telephone interview. "She is a superstar."

Just when you thought the news on golfer Tiger Woods would die down, earlier today it was reported that his mother-in-law collapsed at his Florida home and was rushed to the same hospital Woods was treated in last week when he had his mysterious accident.

Barbo Holmberg is Elin Nordegren’s mother and Woods’ mother-in-law. She was rushed to the Health Central Hospital due to stomach pains after a 911 call. She was released after about 10 hours and returned to the Woods’ home.

With the continuous news and headlines around the nation from entertainment networks to sports channels and radio stations on the Tiger Woods’ transgressions, the reality is the best golfer in the world owes no one any apology except his wife, his children and family.

Not even fellow golfer Jesper Parnevik? No!

Parnevik was on Golf Channel disparaging Woods for his transgressions because he [Parnevik] and his wife introduced Woods to their then nanny Elin Nordegren who later became Mrs. Woods.

Michael Phelps is the face of swimming and whatever he does; win eight Olympic Gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games or hitting a bong during a college visit will always make news. So when Phelps finished second in the 200 meters medley final in Stockholm, Sweden at a short-course World Cup on Wednesday, everyone know it was big news.

Phelps clocked in at 1 minute 53.93 seconds, more than two seconds behind South African Darian Townsend who won in 1:51.79.