Editor's Note: Ann Liguori was one of the reporters selected to attend Monday's press conference with Tiger Woods.

Westhampton - At the Augusta National, Tiger Woods looked and sounded like a new man! And if he continues to take time to chat with his fans, sign some autographs, and talk to those who work in all positions at Augusta National from the janitor and the receptionist to the Chairman of the Club, as they say he has been doing here at Augusta National, then perhaps the top golfer in the world, really has changed!

Tiger's "comeback" has officially started and based on his humble, contrite 'performance' in the 34 minute press conference in front of 200 reporters who were selected to be there, I'd say the first day back on his 'official' road to recovery went as well as could be expected! Tiger verbally attempted to "make good" with his fellow players, his fans and the media, as he answered a variety of questions.

In fact, he seemed sharper in his press conference, cleverly answering questions and dodging others, than he was playing his Monday practice round with Freddie Couples. Early Monday morning, Tiger teed it up with Couples and played 18 holes. Jim Furyk joined them for the last couple of holes. Couples said that Tiger was "loose with his driver" and "did not really play that sharp." But Couples added that the galleries were delighted to have Tiger back and welcomed him with polite applause throughout his round.

The reception from the crowd was one of Tiger's primary concerns leading up to his first tournament back and in the 2 p.m. press conference, Tiger immediately said that the galleries could not have been nicer. He said the encouragement that he got "blew me away to be honest with you" and that the way he was treated "really touched my heart pretty good."

When he first walked in, a 'hush' permeated the room like never before. The anticipation and build up was extreme with intense anticipation and an acute sense of drama in the air. And then right before he walked in, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop! He was greeted enthusiastically by two Augusta National members as he walked into the press conference room and then he walked up to the platform where Craig Heatley, the Chairman of the Masters Media Committee, said he was "delighted to have you here with us…" It was interesting that Tiger walked into that room through the main entrance and not from the back entrance where most players enter. As he walked in, he tapped a few of the reporters he knew on the shoulder and said hello to them.

Augusta National Golf Course. (wordpress.com)

He kept his opening comments brief but did make it a point to apologize to his fellow players for being "bombarded with questions over the past few months" and that "hopefully, after today, the players can be left alone to focus on the Masters and focus on their game, not only for this week but going forward as well."

And so began Tiger's campaign to be liked again - by his fellow players, by his fans, the media, and eventually, his sponsors.

And he at least temporarily appeased the golf media who seemed somewhat satisfied by his answers, as Tiger repeatedly expressed how sorry he was and that he takes full responsibility for his behavior. He said he fooled himself, rationalized his behavior, lied to himself and hurt a lot of people in the process. He said "it was all pretty brutal" "Unfortunately what I've done over the past years has been just terrible to my family. And the fact I won golf tournaments I think is irrelevant. It's the pain and the damage that I've caused, you know, to my wife, my mom, my wife's family; my kids going forward are going to have to - I'm going to have to explain all of this to them."

He was asked how he reacted to the mainstream media and how critical they were and he said he was surprised by it. But he acknowledged that times have changed and so has the technology. But then he admitted "I know a lot of my friends are in here and I haven't seen them. I haven't talked to them, but I've read their articles and of course they have been critical of me. They should, because what I have done was wrong. But then again, I know a lot of you in here are my friends and will always be my friends…"

There were several questions that he did not answer satisfactorily, including questions about whether he should be returning to the game so soon as it relates to repairing his relationship with his wife Elin, who will not be here this week; what he was in rehab for and my question about whether he would keep his management team intact, and how much did they actually know about everything that was going on? He rambled when responding to that question:

"Well, I certainly have everyone around me. I've lied and deceived a lot of people and a lot of people didn't know what I was doing either. So I've had, again, a tremendous amount of support, as well, from others on the outside, and it's been a difficult time. But also, I'm actually surprised how much support I've gotten as well."

What? It was a confusing answer and one he obviously was not going to answer sufficiently.

But he did get back to his fans and how he vows to be more respectful of the game and of his fans.

He realizes he "underappreciated" his fans and that so many kids have looked up to him. He thanked them and he is going to try to show his appreciation for his fans more going forward. He said that he would try not to get "as hot on the course" but that "he's not going to be as exuberant" either - so the question becomes, can he maintain his intensity while controlling his outbursts and his temper?

He also described the treatment he received from controversial Canadian Doctor Galea. He said that Dr. Galea, under investigation for distributing HGH, did indeed treat him at his home but never gave him HGH or any performance enhancing drugs. "I've never taken any illegal drug, ever," he stated. He did have PRP (platelet-enriched plasma) treatments after he blew out his ACL and as part of his reconstruction with his LCL. He admitted to tearing his Achilles in his right leg in December of last year and went to hyperbaric chambers after the injections to help his leg heal faster. I'm sure we have not heard the end of this issue however.

Finally, Tiger was asked what his expectations are this week, golf wise, and he said "nothing has changed." He is going to go out there "and try to win this thing." I don't think he will win the tournament. He is not match tough enough, having not played a tournament in five months. But getting this press conference out of the way, whether you believed his answers or not, is a HUGE relief to him and sets him up nicely on this road to recovery!