Washington, Feb 19 (IANS) In a first public appearance since the scandal over his extramarital affairs erupted, star golfer Tiger Woods Friday sought apology from his family, friends and fans for letting them down and promised to reform himself.

"I am deeply sorry for my selfish behaviour. People want to know what my behaviour would have caused to wife and children."

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

"I have a lot to atone for," Woods said but denied the incident on the night of Thanksgiving that he hit his wife as some media reports claimed as well as allegation he was using drugs.

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."

He spoke at the Club House at TPC Sawgrass headquarters of the US PGA Tour at Ponte Vedra beach, Florida.