Washington, Feb 19 (IANS) Star golfer Tiger Woods Friday broke his silence months after a sex scandal disrupted his career and marital life and said he was deeply sorry for cheating on his wife.

'I am deeply sorry for my selfish behaviour. I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable and I am the only person to blame,' Woods said in his first public appearance at headquarters of the US PGA tour at Ponte Vedra beach, Florida.

'I brought this shame on myself,' Woods said, fighting hard to hold back tears.

'Elin (Nordegren, his wife)) and I have started a process to overcome the problem,' an apologetic Woods said, adding his apology to his wife would not be in words but in his changed behaviour.

Woods is on an indefinite sabbatical from golf after the reports of his sexual relations with numerous women surfaced. Woods is one the most successful golfers in the game's history and is one of the wealthiest sportsmen in the world.

'I am sure I have made you question who I am and I am embarrassed to put you in this position,' he said. 'I am so sorry and I have lot to answer.'

'I have a lot to atone for. Elin never hit me on the Thanksgiving night. Elin has shown immense poise and she deserve praise, not blame,' Woods said,

He also denied reports that he was using drugs.

He defended his wife and denied media speculation that there had been physical violence between the couple. The speculation arose after a bizarre minor car accident in November outside Woods' Florida home in the middle of the night.

'Elin never hit me that night, or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence (in our family)...'

'My repeated unfaithful behaviour is unacceptable. I knew my actions were wrong. I only thought of myself. My behaviour had done considerable loss to my business partners.'

Woods slammed the paparazzi for stalking his family members, including his young daughter to school.

'I have a long way to go but I have taken the first step,' he said adding that he planned to return to golf one day. 'I don't know when that day will be.'