Reporters grill Tiger Woods at Masters news conference

AUGUSTA - Tiger Woods was nervous.

That much was apparent at the beginning of his news conference Monday at the Augusta National Golf Club, when he called practice-round partner Fred Couples "Craig" - an obvious bit of confusion since his first meeting with multiple members of the media in nearly five months was being moderated by Augusta National media committee Chairman Craig Heatley.

See a transcript of Tiger Woods' press conference

But Woods quickly recovered and carried himself without further slips during a 34-minute session that included 48 questions from a mix of newspaper, magazine, Internet and TV reporters. It was the media's first chance to grill Woods since a single-car accident in the early morning hours of Nov. 27 outside his Orlando, Fla., home triggered the most sensational tabloid news frenzy in sports since O.J. Simpson.

See a photo gallery from the practice rounds at the Masters

Woods dropped some tidbits of news - such as his playing through a torn Achilles tendon in his right leg much of last season, and the fact that his wife, Elin, would not be in Augusta this week - and again offered apologies to people, such as his family and fellow PGA Tour players for the scandal in which Woods has admitted to multiple extra-marital affairs.

He also praised the fans at Augusta National for greeting him so warmly on the first day of Masters week. Woods played 18 holes with Couples and was cheered by a gallery that grew with every hole he played.

"The encouragement I got blew me away," Woods said. "Today was something that really touched my heart pretty good."

Woods will start his 16th Masters Tournament on Thursday. He has won it four times, but not since 2005, his longest stretch as a professional without a green jacket.

But before birdies and bogeys, Woods had to contend with questions related to affairs, prescription drugs, human growth hormone and his rehabilitation for what widely is assumed to be a sexual addiction.

Woods didn't budge on two main points: He continued to defend his refusal to be interviewed by the Florida Highway Patrol in the aftermath of his accident and would not second-guess himself for allowing a "blood-spinning" treatment in his home by Anthony Galea, a Canadian doctor who has been arrested in his country for dispensing human growth hormone.

Galea remains the subject of a joint investigation by the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Monday's news conference was extraordinary in its preparation and security by club officials. The list of reporters was pared from more than 400 to 207.

Reporters had to register for the news conference and received numbered tickets. They then were asked to begin lining up outside the room used for news conferences 45 minutes before its scheduled 2 p.m. start. The doors were closed at 1:50 p.m., and no one was permitted in, whether they were ticketed or not.

After opening statements by Heatley and Woods, the questioning began.

If Woods was expecting any softballs to warm the session up, he was mistaken, as Associated Press national golf writer Doug Ferguson, the reporter who has grown closest to Woods over the years, asked why Woods didn't consent to interviews by the FHP, and why he