(Thumbnail image: LIFE)

“If this thing reeks of staginess it’s going to backfire big time. Nobody wants to see some Soviet-era photo op, and no one wants to see the same old Tiger Woods, sending out one image to the public while doing the exact opposite in private.” (HLN)

Tiger Woods just announced that on Friday he’ll publically apologize for his sexual, well, we’ll call them “transgressions”, from three months ago. Some think Tiger is ready to get back in the game, but other media outlets are calling him out on what seems to be not a sincere apology, but a well-planned publicity ploy.

We’re looking at perspectives from ESPN, The Toronto Star, Hollywoodlife.com, CNN and ABC.

ESPN’s Jason Sobel says Woods is just ready to get back in the game.

“He wants to come back to golf, and he knows that he can not come back to golf without first making some sort of statement. I know that others have said, ‘look he’s a golfer, he can go out there and just play the game and not have to worry about speaking to the public about his personal life,’ but I just don’t see that happening.”

But The Toronto Star points out that this statement is conveniently taking media attention off the Accenture Match Play Championship this week. Accenture is Woods’ former sponsor — the company dropped him after his sex scandals.

“Why now? Why not last week or next week? Because it comes right when the Accenture Match Play Championship will be getting down to the short strokes, that's why.”

Woods was also seen out jogging only hours after the statement was released. HollywoodLife.com points out that, suspiciously, photos of the jog were not taken by a typical paparazzo, but instead by sports photographer Sam Greenwood.

“You’ve done a first rate job of keeping yourself out of sight for almost three months, but now you’re suddenly jogging in public with a trainer … hmmm! … And, it’s the same day that your agent has released a statement …”

No questions from the press will be allowed when Woods makes his statement Friday. On Larry King Live Stephen A. Smith says this choice will land Woods in the bunker.

“I’m shocked at his stupidity to be quite honest because it’s absolutely idiotic the way he’s going about doing this. To not take any questions from the media, to surround himself by colleagues and friends … Clearly Tiger Woods has revealed himself as a person who believes he’s above reproach and he’s not somebody that needs to be questioned.”

And on ABC News, founder of PR agency Fifteen Minutes Howard Bragman agrees, but offers Woods some advice.

“A five minute talk to friends and colleagues on Frida is not going to make this all go away. What he needs to do is start the redemption process, start his visibility campaign and really start to win the trust and confidence of his friends and fans that have been so let down.”

So, is Tiger Woods’ really sorry, or is this just a PR machine at work? And will Woods’ apology finally get him out of the woods?

Writer: Lauren Zima
Producer: Newsy Staff