Tiger's Mother Defends Her Son
After Tiger Woods publicly apologized Friday for cheating on his wife, the golfer's mother came to his defense and said she was proud of him.
When Woods finished, he hugged his mother and she whispered in his ear.
"I said 'I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you and I love you," Kultida Woods said.
After the event, Kultida Woods spoke to reporters.
"This thing, it teaches him, just like golf," she said. "When he changes a swing… he wants to get better… He will start getting better… it's just like that. Golf is just like life, when you make a mistake, you learn from your mistake and move on stronger. That's the way he is."
Photos: Tiger Apologizes
Watch Tiger Woods' Statement
Tiger Woods: Complete Coverage
She also said that the magnitude of his transgressions have been blown out of proportion by the media.
"I am upset the way media treated him like he's a criminal. He didn't kill anybody, he didn't do anything illegal. They've being carrying on from thanksgiving until now, that's not right," she said.
"People don't understand that Tiger has a very good heart and soul," she said, citing the role of his foundation in helping kids and also in Thailand. "Sometimes I think there is a complete double standard… He tried to improve himself."
Kultida Woods said that the scrutiny of Tiger is magnified by his celebrity.
"It's not easy to be him," she said. "(People) go to work 8 to 5 and go home to have a life with the family. Tiger can't do that."
She also said that Buddhism would help her son get through the ordeal
"Buddhism teaches you to go deep inside your soul and look through from himself, and correct the bad thing to be a good thing," she said. "When he realized, he said okay, and went back to practice Buddhism and that will make him a much better person."
Complete Tiger Woods coverage:
Tiger: "I Am Deeply Sorry"
Tiger Won't "Rule Out" Golf Return in 2010
Watch Tiger Woods' Statement
Reaction Divided over Tiger's Apology
And There It Is: Tiger's Polished Apology
Photos: Tiger Apologizes
CBSSports.com's Steve Elling Blogs about Tiger
Steve Elling: Tiger Must Serve Penance
Ray Ratto: Tiger's Apology Far Too Public
Analyst: We Just Want Tiger Back
Mid-Apology, Tiger Denies Drug Use
Text of Tiger Woods' Statement
Tiger Woods Word Cloud
Tiger Woods and Buddhism