Begay talks to Woods for first time in months, offers support

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Notah Begay III was in attendance for Tiger Woods' statement Friday at TPC Sawgrass.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The last time Notah Begay III had spoken to Tiger Woods prior to Friday at TPC Sawgrass was the week before Thanksgiving, when the two attended the Stanford-Cal football game with their families.

That's a long time given the two had talked to each other on a weekly basis, said Begay, prior to Woods' Nov. 27 car accident outside his Orlando home.

Begay was in the field for this week's Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun, but withdrew from the tournament to be in attendance for Woods' statement. Begay, who was a teammate of Woods' at Stanford, was invited by Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg of IMG.

"It was a no-brainer for me," Begay said on his way to the airport following the Woods statement. "I wanted to lend my support to Tiger as he works his way through this."

Begay also said that, like a lot of people, he was surprised by Woods' admitted infidelity and affairs, despite their close relationship that dates back to when the two were teammates on the Stanford golf team. Begay was a senior when Woods was a freshman.

Following Woods' 15-minute statement to the hand-picked group and television audience at large, Woods hugged a number of people, including Begay. The two exchanged a few private words and as Woods made his way to his car, Begay offered a few words of encouragement to the world's top-ranked golfer.

"I just wanted him to know he has my support," Begay said. "I think he's doing the right things."

Begay knows what it's like to be in Woods' shoes. On Jan. 19, 2000, he was arrested for driving under the influence. Begay received alcohol behavioral counseling the following month and served a one-week jail sentence that March.

"I can relate with trying to make amends with my own counseling I went through," Begay said. "The first step of reconciliation is through friends and family. I understand it's not what everybody wanted to hear at times, but the most important thing is confronting it on a personal level to salvage your family."

Woods, Begay said, appears to be doing that.

"As I listened, I was happy and hopeful that he's taken the first step on the path of rehabilitation," Begay said. "I thought there was a tremendous amount of sincerity and humility in his words."

Like everyone else Begay isn't sure when Woods will return, nor does he think it matters all that much -- at least at the moment.

"Golf is a distant third or fourth," Begay said. "He's got to look into his personal issues and shortcomings and address his marital issues along with keeping family intact."

Like most players, though, Begay would like to see Woods back playing golf, something that Woods himself set no clear timetable for on Friday.

"I would say 99 percent of the players want him back because he's such an asset to our game," Begay said. "In my own experience, it's nice to come out and people want you to be there."

As for whether he thinks Woods is truly a changed man, Begay said, "His actions will be the true barometer."