Golf:Eight-time major winner Tom Watson has called on world number one Tiger Woods to "show some humility" and apologise for his behaviour before returning to golf.
Woods has taken an indefinite break from golf after speculation surrounding his private life erupted at the end of November.
He admitted to “transgressions” following allegations that he had extra-marital affairs.
Fellow American Watson, 60, has backed up the comments made by former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, that Woods should make his eagerly anticipated return away from the fairways.
“One of the things that is not in question is what Tiger has to do, he has to take ownership of what he has done. He must get his personal life in order,” said Watson ahead of this week’s Dubai Desert Classic.
“And when he comes back, he has to show some humility to the public in the sense that if I were him, it wouldn’t be at a golf tournament where I would first come out.
“I would come out and do an interview and say ‘I screwed up’ and admit it. And (say), ‘I’m going to change; I want my wife and family back; I have to earn her trust back’.
“He messed up. He knows he messed up. The world knows he messed up. And he has to take ownership of that.”
Watson also believes when the 34-year-old 14-time major winner ends his self-imposed career break he should also re-think on course antics.
“I feel that he has not carried the same stature as the other great players that have come along like Jack (Nicklaus), Byron Nelson, (Ben) Hogan in the sense that there was bad language and club throwing on the golf course," said the five-time British Open champion.
“You can grant that to somebody, a young person, that has not been out there for a while, but I think he needs to clean up his act and show the respect for the game that the people before him have shown.”
Last year's British Open runner-up is making his first appearance at a regular European Tour event since the 1993 German Masters this week at Emirates Golf Club.
The veteran also took the opportunity to add his condemnation to the use of controversial 20-year-old wedges ahead of a meeting between US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and players in Los Angeles today.
World number two Phil Mickelson took the decision to exploit a loophole in a new regulation outlawing the use of certain shape of grooves at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. The left-hander has defended his decision, which was criticised by some of his fellow players.
Pádraig Harrington is also awaiting the result of today’s meeting which takes place ahead of this week’s Northern Trust Open after testing the old Ping Eye 2 wedges.
“It is against the spirit of the game," added Watson. "Why would they want to do that?”
“It doesn’t make any sense to me. It doesn’t make any sense at all. It doesn’t look good for players to use them. I just don’t think it is the right thing to do.”
The loophole in the regulation introduced at the start of the year by golf’s lawmakers means Ping clubs manufactured pre-1990 are technically exempt, although that only applies on the US PGA Tour due to the relevant lawsuit taking place in America.
Harrington, making his seasonal debut on the PGA Tour this week, has called for a swift resolution by the lawmakers but conceded he may use the controversial wedge if they remain legal.
"It has to be black and white, it really does," said the three-time major winner. "And the problem is that it is black and white, it's legal, so that means there has to be something else done about it.
"Maybe everybody could sign up to a charter and say we won't use them. But while they are out there being used, it's difficult for anybody who's competitive not to go out there and take full advantage if somebody else is.
"Whether I'm going to use them (Ping wedges) or not, I'm kind of waiting to see what the Tour's direction is. I'm preparing myself for all eventualities. It would be naive not to."