Sir Nick Faldo watched Tiger Woods bare his soul and said: "It's pretty difficult to stand up in front of the world and do that."

The six-time major winner and former European Ryder Cup captain, who has seen his own personal problems become public knowledge during his career, described Woods's statement as "a pretty expansive apology".

Faldo will now wait like everyone else to see how long the world number one is out of action.

He said: "That's still up in the air, but his whole world has been golf and if he does not get back to it you assume he does not have a world.

"We all know what happens to the ratings (television viewing figures are vastly higher when Woods plays), but golf goes on."

Faldo, speaking on BBC radio, added: "It's bigger than any individual who's ever played and it's pretty exciting right now."

Now working as a commentator on American television, Faldo also stated that he found it "quite amazing" that Woods chose the middle of a big tournament to make his announcement.

The stated reason was that Woods is going back into therapy, but Faldo said: "I don't buy that one."

Some of the players competing in the WGC-Accenture Match Play were prepared to give their comments before today's third round matches, which began less than two hours after Woods spoke.

Open champion Stewart Cink said: "I was moved by how difficult it seemed to be for him.

"It sounds like it's part of the recovery or the healing process that he has to go through.

"I've got a couple of good friends that have gone through the alcohol abuse programme and similar steps are taken in the healing process where you have to make amends to the people you've hurt.

"You have to start the bridge to the other side and I think that's where Tiger is.

"It sounded heartfelt to me. It sounds like it was a really difficult thing for him to do - probably one of the most difficult things he's ever had to do.

"Tiger's a tough guy that is going to, like he said, overcome this.

"I have no idea (when Woods will return), but he'll do it when it's his time.

"I think he'll be received well (by fellow players). One thing we have to remember - we've all made mistakes and all sinned. And forgiveness is a huge part of the process."

Luke Donald added before his match against fellow Englishman Oliver Wilson: "I think it was a sincere apology.

"Obviously he made it very clear that he wants media to leave his family alone, which I kind of agree with.

"(It) seems like he is getting the care and the help that he needs and hopefully he'll be back on tour whenever he's better."

American Ben Crane said: "One of the first things that came to my mind is one of my favourite stories in the Bible.

"It's about a woman who has sinned and been a prostitute and everyone brings her before Jesus and says, 'Shouldn't we stone her? Shouldn't we kill her?'.

"Jesus says, 'Absolutely stone her. But you without sin be the one to cast the first stone'.

"I thought it was an amazing conference. I thought he was very humble. I think we all love him as a golfer and as a family man.

"We want to see what's best for him and I think everything he did is going to help him get back soon."

Mark O'Meara, a long-standing close friend of Woods and fellow tour professional, was impressed by today's statement.

"Today was a step in the right direction," O'Meara said on Sky Sports News.

"He's doing the right things. He's going to take his time and make the right decisions.

"Tiger's a very intelligent person. He's meant a lot to the game and he's meant a lot to me and my family.

"I know he's very regretful for what he's done; he's shown that today.

"His actions will speak more than the words for how he conducts himself over the rest of his life."

O'Meara had no doubt Woods' show of emotion during the press conference was authentic.

"He's sincere by what he's saying," O'Meara said.

"I think he was very genuine, that's Tiger.

"Tiger is a very protected individual - he doesn't really show a lot of emotion a lot of times.

"We know what kind of champion he is on and off the golf course but this is a big battle he's fighting right now.

"He's going to show to the people he can be a champion off the course."

O'Meara added: "I love the kid.

"I know I've said before I was disappointed about what happened - who wouldn't be? - but with disappointment comes hope.

"My hope for Tiger and his family, for Elin and the kids, is they work through this issue and Tiger gets back to what I know he's capable of doing - winning tournaments, smiling, showing the people of this great game he can be the person they want him to be."

Woods' former coach Butch Harmon predicted the 14-time major winner would just about cope with the attention on him when he eventually returns to action.

Harmon told Sky Sports News: "He has the strongest mind in the history of the game since Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan.

"Mentally, he's probably strong enough to handle that.

"He's going to take a lot of criticism, he's going to get a lot of protesters and things coming from the gallery that he's not accustomed to."

However, Harmon stressed his view that Woods cannot fully repair his reputation.

"I don't think he can overcome this with the public perception of who he is," Harmon said.

"I think he'll always be damaged that way.

"I think, when we look at Tiger Woods, we look at him completely differently to how we did before."

As for public forgiveness, Harmon said: "If he comes back and wins, we seem to be a very forgiving world when it comes to that way.

"If he never comes back and plays again, or when he comes back if he's not the Tiger Woods we're used to, I'm not sure they will (forgive)."

Harmon expects the most difficult aspect of returning to golf will be facing the tough questions he is bound to encounter from reporters.

"Eventually, if he comes back to playing tournament golf, he's going to have to hold a press conference, he can't stay in this cocoon forever," Harmon said.

"He's going to have to come out in the public eye. People are going to ask questions - whether he answers them remains to be seen."

Harmon watched on television as Woods spoke, and he added: "I thought one of the telling things that I took away from this whole thing was that his wife Elin wasn't standing next to him.

"I'm not sure if that's good or bad but I thought that was very unusual to see."

Woods' mother Kultida backed her son to grow "stronger" because of his experience.

She said: "As a human being everyone has faults, makes mistakes and sins. We all do. But, we move on when we make a mistake and learn from it. He will come out stronger, a better person."