Stars React To The Death Of Brittany Murphy

Access Hollywood – 2 hours, 42 minutes ago

Ashton Kutcher/Brittany Murphy/Jessica SimpsonComposed by AccessHollywood.comAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — In the wake of the news of Brittany Murphy’s death at age 32 on Sunday, her former co-stars and the Hollywood community reacted with messages of condolences and sadness.

Ashton Kutcher, who starred opposite Brittany in the 2003 romantic comedy, “Just Married,” posted a couple of notes on his Twitter page about the petite star, who died early Sunday morning in Los Angeles.

“2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon,” he wrote on Sunday afternoon, adding, “see you on the other side kid.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Brittany Murphy Remembered

Alyssa Milano, who made a trip with Brittany to visit the troops overseas several years ago, also hit Twitter to share her sadness over the actress’ unexpected passing.

“Brittney Murphy and I did a USO Tour together in 2003. She was a sweet soul, with a lot of talent and heart,” Alyssa wrote.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: The Films Of Brittany Murphy

Lindsay Lohan also posted a message on her Twitter page after the news broke.

“My deepest condonlences (sic) go out to all of Brittany Murphy’s loved ones& may she rest in peace… She was a great talent w/a beautiful soul xo,” Lindsay wrote.

Mena Suvari, Brittany’s co-star in the 2002 film “Spun,” wrote that she was shaken by the news.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Sudden Endings: Stars Who Died Too Soon

“I’m just sooo devastated now,” she Tweeted. “Found out Brittany Murphy died earlier this morning & I’m shockedWe worked together & I knew her for yrs.”

The actress also offered her condolences to Brittany’s loved ones.

“And ALL my love to her family & friends. May God be with you in this difficult time,” she wrote.

Frankie Muniz, from “Malcolm in the Middle,” was one of the first stars to Tweet about Brittany’s tragic passing, writing, “An old friend, Brittany Murphy has died this morning. RIP.. What a year…”

Kathy Najimy, Brittany’s co-star in the FOX animated series “King of The Hill” had a strong reaction.

“wrked w/& knew Brittany 4 14 years (& plyed her mom once as well) sweetst most talnted angel who got hked up w/ wrng people. we love u brit,” Kathy reportedly wrote on Sunday.

“so sad this is truly a waste. feeling regret we didnt’ do more. i love you so much Brittany and always will,” she added.

Other stars who didn’t share the big screen with Brittany also chimed in on Twitter.

“Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people. Her smile was contagious,” Jessica Simpson Tweeted. “My prayers are with her family and loved ones.”

“So sad to hear about Brittany Murphey. My favorite was her voice in Happy Feet. Many prayers sent out to her family from us,” Candace Cameron Bure wrote.

“hey ya’ll. Life is so precious. RIP Brittany Murphy,” Taraji P. Henson Tweeted.

And Leven Rambin from “Grey’s Anatomy” also chimed in.

“RIP Brittany Murphy! So horribly sad!!!!” she wrote

Cheryl Burke from “Dancing With the Stars” shared her grief too.

“Wow I am shocked about the news! RIP Brittany Murphy. My heart goes out to you and your family,” she posted.

And Tom Green shared what he remembered most about the late actress.

“RIP Brittany Murphy – She was always very nice to me, my friends, and family. Nicer than most. And a real funny gal,” he wrote.

Hospital: Actress Brittany Murphy dies at age 32

In this Dec. 1,2009 photo provided by PictureGroup showing Brittany Murphy arriving at the ‘Across the Hall’ Premiere in Beverly Hills, Calif. A Los Angeles hospital spokeswoman says actress Brittany Murphy has died. She was 32. (AP Photo/PictureGroup, Gregg DeGuire)Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Brittany Murphy, the actress who got her start in the sleeper hit “Clueless” and rose to stardom in “8 Mile,” died Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 32.

Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart said. Stewart would not provide a cause of death or any other information.

Murphy was transported to the hospital after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at 8 a.m. at the home she shared with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, in the Hollywood Hills.

Los Angeles police have opened an investigation into Murphy’s death, Officer Norma Eisenman said. Detectives and coroner’s officials were at Murphy and Monjack’s home above the Sunset Strip on Sunday afternoon but did not talk to reporters. Paparazzi were camped outside.

Messages left for Murphy’s manager, agent and publicist by The Associated Press were not immediately returned.

Neighbor Clare Staples said she saw firefighters working to resuscitate the actress Sunday morning. She said Murphy was on a stretcher and “looked as though she was dead at the scene.”

Murphy’s husband, wearing pajama bottoms and no shoes, appeared “dazed” as firefighters tried to save her, Staples said. “It’s just tragic,” she added.

TMZ.com first reported Murphy’s death Sunday morning.

Murphy’s father, Angelo Bertolotti, said he learned of her death from his son, the actress’s brother, and was stunned.

“She was just an absolute doll since she was born,” Bertolotti said from his Branford, Fla., home. “Her personality was always outward. Everybody loved her — people that made movies with her, people on a cruise — they all loved her. She was just a regular gal.”

He said he hadn’t heard much about the circumstances of Murphy’s death. Bertolotti divorced her mother when Murphy was young and hadn’t seen Murphy in the past few years. He said he used to be in the mob and served prison time on federal drug charges.

“She was just talented,” Bertolotti said. “And I loved her very much.”

Born Nov. 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Murphy grew up in New Jersey and later moved with her mother to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Her career started in the early 1990s with small roles in television series, commercials and movies. She is best known for parts in “Girl, Interrupted,” “Clueless” and “8 Mile.”

Her on-screen roles declined in recent years, but Murphy’s voice gave life to numerous animated characters, including Luanne Platter on more than 200 episodes of Fox’s “King of the Hill” and Gloria the penguin in the 2006 feature “Happy Feet.”

She is due to appear in Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming film, “The Expendables,” set for release next year.

Her role in “8 Mile” led to more recognition, Murphy told AP in 2003. “That changed a lot,” she said. “That was the difference between people knowing my first and last name as opposed to not.”

Murphy credited her mother, Sharon, with being a key to her success.

“When I asked my mom to move to California, she sold everything and moved out here for me,” Murphy said. “I was really grateful to have grown up in an environment that was conducive to creating and didn’t stifle any of that. She always believed in me.”

She dated Ashton Kutcher, who costarred with Murphy in 2003’s romantic comedy “Just Married.”

Kutcher sent a message on Twitter Sunday morning about Murphy’s death: “2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine,” Kutcher wrote. “My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon.”

___

AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney and Matt Sedensky in Miami contributed to this report.

Elin Nordegren to Spend Christmas in Sweden; Divorce a Certainty

Dec 17 2009. Posted by Adam

TIGER Woods‘ wife Elin Nordegren is set to spend Christmas in Sweden with the couple’s two children — and sources say a divorce is “100 percent on”.

“Elin is going to Sweden soon,” a source told People magazine.

“Two stewardesses and one pilot are in Sweden with the plane now getting it ready to come pick them up.”

The initial plan was for Nordegren, 29, and the family to travel to Sweden in January. But those plans changed. Woods is not expected to come along, People reports.

Meanwhile, sources tell Us Weekly magazine that Elin — furious at claims the golfer has cheated on her with numerous women — WILL be filing for divorce.

“A divorce is 100 percent on,” a source said.

Elin is said to be consulting L.A. based divorce lawyer Sorrell Trope, but the insider insists the former model “is not rushing to divorce. She’s going to take her sweet time.

“She wants all the dirty laundry to be out on the table before she signs anything.”

Only Married Elin Nordegren To Boost Image, Report Says

RadarOnline.com reports that a Tiger Woods told one of his many alleged mistresses that he only married Elin Nordegren to improve his public image. According to the article, Woods revealed the secret to Theresa Rogers, a 40-something “cougar” (PHOTOS), “during the early days of his marriage.” The source claimed to have seen Woods and Rogers engaged in “long and passionate kisses.”

Numerous reports have surfaced claiming that Nordegren plans to divorce Woods. According to one person, the divorce is “100 percent on.” Nordegren was recently seen in public with her wedding ring noticeably missing from her finger.

Rogers is rumored to be negotiating a secret payoff from Woods, following reports that she hired power lawyer Gloria Allred, who also represents alleged Tiger mistress Rachel Uchitel (PHOTOS).

Health care bill in balance without Nelson’s vote

 

AP – Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., talks to reporters after voting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Dec. …

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent – 44 mins ago

WASHINGTON – A year in the making, sweeping health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama hung in the balance Thursday as conservative Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson withheld his vote in pursuit of stricter abortion limits and liberals grew restive on the left.

Any lingering hopes the bill’s supporters had of a Republican casting a critical 60th vote vanished when Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said after a meeting with Obama that the Democrats’ timetable for a pre-Christmas vote was “totally unrealistic.”

Nelson, the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, was vague throughout the day about his intentions, eventually telling reporters, “I hope we’re getting closer” to agreement.

“Without modifications, the language concerning abortion is not sufficient,” he said earlier in the day in a written statement that summarized the results of days of private negotiations. The second-term Nebraskan opposes the procedure and wants tighter restrictions written into the overhaul.

With Nelson’s support, the White House and Senate Democrats would command 60 votes for the health care measure, enough to overcome a Republican filibuster and pass the bill within a matter of days.

Without it, the prospects are far more uncertain, given unyielding Republican opposition on the conservative right as well as growing expressions of unhappiness on the left that sent the White House scrambling.

“The absolute refusal of Republicans in the Senate to support health care reform and the hijacking of the bill by defenders of the insurance industry have brought us a Senate bill that is inadequate,” Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, said in a statement.

His criticism of GOP lawmakers aside, Trumka’s blast seemed aimed at Nelson, Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and possibly other members of the Senate Democratic caucus who have successfully stripped the legislation of any form of government-run insurance option.

Andrew Stern, head of the Service Employees International Union, said he, too, was deeply disappointed in the bill.

But like Trumka, he stopped short of urging its defeat. Not so Howard Dean, the former national party chairman, who has said he would oppose the legislation because it does not include a strong enough role for the government in a remade health care system. Dean unleashed his criticism this week after Lieberman won the deletion of a proposed expansion of Medicare from the bill.

Overall, the legislation is designed to extend coverage to millions who lack it, ban insurance company practices such as denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and slow the rise in medical spending nationwide.

The bill would require most Americans to purchase insurance, and it includes hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies to help lower- and middle-class families afford it.

The White House dispatched strategist David Axelrod to answer liberal critics in television interviews. Former President Bill Clinton, who failed to win a health care overhaul in the 1990s, issued a statement saying, “Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder, both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country.”

Liberal supporters of the measure in the Senate renewed their support, as well. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said debates “leading to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965 were no less turbulent and partisan.” In the current case, he added, “We have had to make painful compromises,” but he predicted what will be remembered is that “President Obama achieved his No. 1 domestic priority and that Congress passed a big, historic bill.”

Perhaps, but not yet.

Abortion wasn’t the only issue Thursday, just the one commanding the most public attention.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a supporter of the legislation, said she was involved in talks to cushion the impact on nonprofit insurance companies from the effects of a new industrywide tax. She also sought to ease the effects on small businesses from the tax on medical device makers.

While Nelson sent somewhat conflicting signals during the day, the anti-abortion Catholic Health Association issued an unambiguously optimistic statement on the compromise talks to date on the issue.

“Especially now that a public health insurance option is no longer on the table, we are increasingly confident that Senator Casey’s language can achieve the objective of no federal funding for abortion,” said Carol Keehan, the group’s president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to reviewing the final language these improvements contemplate.”

Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat with strong anti-abortion credentials, has been leading efforts to find a compromise that could win Nelson’s support without jeopardizing the bill’s support among lawmakers on the other side.

Nelson, in an interview with KLIN radio in his home state, he said he was dissatisfied with a proposed compromise on abortion and cast doubt on whether there was still time to complete work on the legislation before Christmas, the informal deadline set by the Democratic leadership.

He also said abortion wasn’t his only concern.

“That’s not enough,” he said, adding that the bill’s proposed expansion of Medicaid could wind up costing his state money.

A few hours later, his office issued a more tempered written statement, noting that the proposal included “important new initiatives addressing teen pregnancy and tax credits to help with adoptions.” It did not speculate about whether the bill might pass by Christmas.

A draft of the proposal also would permit consumers to opt out of abortion coverage, and require insurance companies to cut premiums for those who do.

Abortion played a similar, critical role last month in the final stages of the House debate.

There, abortion foes succeeded in winning significantly strengthened restrictions in the legislation.

Nelson, backed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and others, is now out to accomplish the same mission.

As drafted, the measure bans the use of federal funds to finance abortions under insurance to be sold in a newly created exchange, except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. The plans could provide abortion coverage, however, that consumers would purchase with their own money held apart from any federal subsidies they receive.

That approach draws criticism from abortion opponents who argue it is an accounting gimmick.

Tiger’s opportunity to reinvent himself

By Michael Arkush, Yahoo! Sports 4 hours, 58 minutes ago

No matter whether Elin forgives him, Oprah embraces him or Phil – Knight, not Mickelson – supports him, Tiger Woods has to know that the damage he caused himself, his family and the millions who idolized him will not soon dissipate.

Yet, as is typically the case in the aftermath of a crisis, there is a tremendous opportunity for Woods, who like other celebrities (save O.J.) is permitted one mulligan.

Tiger Woods can rebuild his image by tending to fans and the media.
(AFP/Getty Images/William West)

If Woods ignores the opportunity, he will never regain his heroic status. If he seizes it, he may not be as revered as he was during the PSY (pre-scandal years), but he would be more beloved. The choice is his.

It will require a dramatic transformation in his approach on the course, but he’s smart enough and engaging enough, when he chooses, to pull it off. The mission is not complex: Woods must turn into Mickelson. All he needs is to apply the same dedication to his demeanor that he has shown to his game, and it has to start with the next tournament he plays. He should focus more on winning over the skeptics than winning the event. The other victories will come.

Here are five suggestions for Woods to craft a new image:

1: Sign autographs … tons of them

Woods trails Mickelson by a significant margin in this area. But if he were to start closing the gap, it would send a definite signal that he cares deeply about public opinion.

Lefty has gained enormous popularity by extending himself with the galleries, as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have done for decades. It is truly remarkable how much time they take to satisfy fans’ requests. Woods could adopt a similar mentality even if extra security was necessary. If it requires a half hour or longer for him to sign after each round, so be it.

2: Smile

The only time Woods smiles is when he pulls off a shot even he didn’t expect to hit. That’s not good enough – not in the new Tiger Woods Era. He needs to smile as frequently as possible, even when his shots go slightly astray, and plenty do. He must show us how the game can humble him at any moment, just as his off-the-course failings humbled him. He can demand perfection as much as he wants – nobody is asking him to lower his standards – but when he isn’t completely satisfied, he should accept the disappointment with grace instead of tossing out the usual profanities. The only swearing Woods should do is to tell the truth.

3: Treat the media with greater respect

After his disastrous 1997 interview with GQ, which featured the famous off-color jokes, Woods decided he would steer clear of the media outside of the traditional pre-tournament press conference and post-round interviews. That selfish, arrogant approach has to change as well. He should sit down with the major golf publications and mainstream media as often as his schedule will allow, and be more revealing in press conferences. He usually provides short, evasive answers, especially when he isn’t crazy about the line of questioning. He has lost that luxury forever.

4: Assist the LPGA Tour

More than any group, women have been the most offended by Woods’ infidelity. Why not, then, make a special effort to help women in an area where he can do so much good? He could initiate the Tiger Woods (insert your favorite charity) Classic, with two pro-ams in which he would participate.

Imagine if Woods were paired with Michelle Wie, for instance, or Paula Creamer on a Wednesday. Think the crowds would come out? It would be the kind of boost the troubled LPGA desperately needs – and perhaps launch a greater amount of cooperation between the two tours. The future of the game depends on women as much as men.

5: Play more frequently in the United States

Woods pocketed a $3 million appearance fee to play last month in Australia. Did he really need the money? Of course not.

Given the economic state of the PGA Tour and the importance of attracting more sponsors and securing the next television package (the current six-year deal with CBS and NBC expires in 2012), imagine if Woods were to announce that he was done with playing overseas in the near future – and would make up the difference by adding a few events to his U.S. schedule. He could tee it up in smaller cities he’s never played before. Woods would generate enormous goodwill in those communities and help keep the tour and his peers solvent for years to come.

Will Woods follow any of these suggestions? Probably not. The bet here is that he will return in late March at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, where the King will give him a big hug and all will be forgiven.

Woods will go back to keeping his distance from the galleries and media.

Except all will not be forgiven. He needs to win back our trust … and he will get no more mulligans.

Tag Heuer to assess relationship with Tiger Woods

5 hours, 9 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP)—Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer said it will spend the next few weeks assessing its relationship with golfer Tiger Woods.

The statement from the company Monday afternoon marked a less enthusiastic stance about the world’s richest athlete, who endorses the company’s watches, than earlier in the day.

That’s when a spokeswoman told The Associated Press the company would continue with Woods, whom she called “the best in his domain.”

The luxury watchmaker’s new statement Monday says that because of Woods’ indefinite leave from golf, it is examining its long-term relationship with him.

The statement comes a day after consulting firm Accenture dropped ties with Woods.

Woods announced Friday he is taking an indefinite leave from golf to work on his marriage after allegations of infidelity surfaced in recent weeks.

Tiger Woods in the news: tabloid revelations and blind eyes

By Jay Busbee

As we wind down from TigerCrashGate — yes, it’s true, we’re almost done, at least until he returns to the course — it’s worth taking a look at the way that this story spiraled from one-car hydrant-bump to worldwide scandal, one whose cost will eventually be measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Here’s the key question to all of this: did we need to know about Tiger Woods‘ secret, off-the-course life? Many argue that this is an unforgivable invasion of a family’s privacy, that we’re interested in Tiger Woods as a golfer, not as a family man. As long as he keeps sinking long putts on Sunday afternoons, who cares what he does later that evening?

But that just-golf-it mindset doesn’t account for the fact that Woods is not “just a golfer,” he’s the public face of an entire corporation. What he does on his own time is not his own business, not when his actions can do financial harm to those who have invested hundreds of millions in his image.  That financial impact, not the “more mistresses or more majors?” question, is the real story here.

Still, the reason why this scandal exploded the way it did is because Woods’ secret dealings were allowed to continue unabated, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The more Woods got away with his misdeeds, the bolder — and stupider — he got. (Leaving your name on a voicemail? Sending texts from your own phone? Really, Tiger?)

Part of this is surely because of the coverage bubble that Woods enjoyed for all of his career, a bubble that was born fully formed in Gary Smith’s absurdly over-the-top introduction/sanctification of Woods in a legendary 1996 Sports Illustrated article entitled “The Chosen One.” The see-no-evil approach to Tiger then dominated the golf media for more than a decade, partly because everyone was so in awe of Woods, and partly because Woods would cut off any access to any media outlet daring to poke around the edges of the mystique.

Did Tiger Woods have everyone fooled? Did the golf media know about Tiger’s affairs and cover them up? Did everyone just happen to look the other way at the proper time? Those are questions that each media member will have to answer for him- or herself, but here’s one huge clue: there are several golf media members who have not written a single word about this, the biggest story to hit golf in decades. Why? Well, you’d have to ask them, but it’s a fair bet that they’re setting themselves up as good guys when Tiger eventually does return. (“See, Tiger? All those other guys piled on, but I didn’t! I’m still your pal!”) On the flip side, credit longtime golf writers like Steve Elling who actually did call out Woods, knowing full well that they’ll find that next one-on-one interview that much tougher — if not impossible — to secure.

Many in the golf media got completely outplayed on this story because of their insistence that it was no golf story at all, it was nothing but celebrity garbage, tawdry trash-digging that was beneath them. And again, if it was nothing but the personal affairs of a private family, that would be true. But Tiger’s absence from the tour is going to cost people and corporations hundreds of millions of dollars and fundamentally alter the game of golf for the short term — so, yeah, that very much is a golf story.

Journalists who complain that the tabloids were setting the agenda in this story should have been practicing a little shoe-leather journalism themselves. After the initial revelation on the day before Thanksgiving that Rachel Uchitel was somehow involved with Woods, it was a blogger, Ryan Ballengee of Waggle Room, who trumped the mainstream media and first contacted her. In the absence of comments from Team Tiger, the tabloids filled in the gaps, and despite their “bat boy/UFO abduction” rep, were on the whole more accurate than not. (Tiger’s admission of “infidelities” plural is a testament to that.)

There were some notable missteps on the tabloids’ part. The RadarOnline.com story about Elin Woods moving out proved to be completely groundless, even though many outlets picked it up and ran with it. (We decided not to here because of the flimsiness of the sources.) More significantly, the Life & Style story about two professional golfers calling out Woods turned out to be an utter falsehood; we had decided to mention it here because there was on-the-record attribution, not “unnamed sources.” Surely, we figured, no magazine would be foolish enough to print actual names without verifying. Wrong. Lesson learned — and that’s an aspect of this story that deserves further scrutiny.

This is not to defend the tabloids’ approach to celebrity — they look at stars the way that the rest of us look at a Thanksgiving turkey right out of the oven — but their dogged method of running down a story does indeed have its merits. (Paying interview subjects is not one of them, nor is publishing articles without bylines.) Still, if other journalists were similarly unconcerned about their future access to their subjects, they’d be able to uncover some secrets on topics more important than celebrities’ sex lives.

For now, though, the Tiger story has reached a natural stopping point. We can take some time over the holidays to breathe deep, stop wondering about how many more mistresses will come out of the woodwork, and — thank you, heaven — stop hearing lame Tiger jokes. 

The old Tiger Woods is gone. The new one — well, we haven’t met him yet. But he won’t be on the same celebrity-worship pedestal as the old guy … and, all in all, that’s probably for the best.

Tiger Woods to take ‘indefinite’ leave from golf

 

Tiger Woods said Friday he is taking an indefinite leave from golf to try to save his marriage, the biggest fallout yet from two shocking weeks filled with allegations of rampant extramarital affairs.

“I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person,” Woods said on his Web site.

Woods and his wife, Elin, have been married five years and have a 2-year-old daughter and a 10-month-old son.

The announcement came two weeks after Woods crashed his SUV into a tree outside his Florida home, setting in motion a stunning downfall for the world’s No. 1 player who for 13 years rarely made news off the golf course. One woman who said she had a 31-month affair with Woods shared a voice mail that she said Woods left her two nights before his Nov. 27 accident.

Woods has not been seen in public since the accident.

He gave no indication when he might return in what could be a pivotal year as he pursues the record 18 major championships won by Jack Nicklaus. Woods, who did not win a major this year, has 14.

The Masters, where Woods has won four times, is April 8-11. The U.S. Open is at Pebble Beach, where Woods won by a record 15 strokes in 2000, and the British Open returns to St. Andrews, where he has won twice by a combined 13 shots.

It will be the second straight year that a PGA Tour season begins without its star player. A year ago, Woods was recovering from reconstructive knee surgery that kept him out a total of eight months.

This is different.

“We knew before he was coming back,” said Steve Stricker, one of Woods’ favorite players on tour. “Now, we’re not sure when he’s coming back. But this sounds good. I hope everything works out for him.”

The PGA Tour supported the decision.

“His priorities are where they need to be, and we will continue to respect and honor his family’s request for privacy,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement, the tour’s first public comment since Woods mentioned his “personal failings” and “transgressions” in a Dec. 2 statement. “We look forward to Tiger’s return to the PGA Tour when he determines the time is right for him.”

Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, told The Associated Press that it was the right decision for Woods and his family.

“The entirety of someone’s life is more important than just a professional career,” Steinberg said in an e-mail to the AP. “What matters most is a young family that is trying to cope with difficult life issues in a secluded and caring way. Whenever Tiger may return to the game should be on the family’s terms alone.”

Woods was out of action from July 2008 until the end of February this year, and television ratings dropped 50 percent. The tour is trying to renew a half-dozen title sponsors, and it is to begin negotiations on the next television contract later next year.

As for Woods’ corporate endorsements, all have stood by him for now.

“Tiger has been part of Nike for more than a decade,” Nike said in a statement Friday. “He is the best golfer in the world and one of the greatest athletes of his era. We look forward to his return to golf. He and his family have Nike’s full support.”

Steinberg said it would be “premature and inappropriate” to talk about Woods’ specific business relationships.

“Suffice it to say, we have had thoughtful conversations and his sponsors have been open to a solution-oriented dialogue,” Steinberg said. “Of course, each sponsor has unique considerations and ultimately the decisions they make we would fully understand and accept.”

Earlier this year, Woods became the world’s first athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings, according to Forbes magazine. His sponsors include Nike, Gillette, AT&T, Gatorade, Accenture and Tag Heuer.

Woods last played a tournament Nov. 15 when he won the Australian Masters for his 82nd victory around the world.

Stricker, who went undefeated as Woods’ partner at the Presidents Cup, said his leave was the right decision.

“I think it’s great that he’s going to put his family first and work things out,” Stricker said from Naples, Fla., where he is playing the Shark Shootout. “Golf will always be there. He wants to make sure his marriage is right and everything is good on the homefront. We’ll sure miss him on tour until he gets things taken care of.”

Woods also indicated he would step away from the work of the Tiger Woods Foundation, which has served some 10 million children.

“There are millions of young people who have truly changed their lives through the foundation’s programs, and millions more still counting on us for help,” Woods said in a separate statement through his foundation. “I am committed to them and to the foundation’s excellent work, and I know my staff will continue these efforts during my absence.”

Woods’ mother-in-law released from hospital

 By TAMARA LUSH, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 44 minutes ago Buzz up! 3118 PrintOCOEE, Florida (AP)—Tiger Woods’ mother-in-law collapsed at his home and was rushed to a hospital early Tuesday, touching off the second media frenzy in two weeks surrounding the golfer’s carefully guarded private life. Barbro Holmberg was taken by ambulance to Health Central Hospital with stomach pains after an emergency phone 911 call from Woods’ house. Holmberg, a Swedish politician, was released about 11 hours later and returned to Woods’ mansion, hospital spokesman Dan Yates said. “She was wheeled out in a wheelchair just like everyone else,” Yates said. More From the Woods SagaElin reportedly buys her own $2 million mansion Mystery still surroun  In a recording of the phone call obtained on Tuesday by The Associated Press, a panicking woman tells the dispatcher that her mother has collapsed. “Hurry up,” the woman says as a child can be heard crying in the background. “She collapsed in the bathroom. What do I do?” A few seconds later the woman said her mother was breathing normally, talking and didn’t appear to be hurt from her fall. The caller wasn’t identified. Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren, has a twin sister, but it wasn’t clear whether she was at the house. Health Central was the same hospital where Woods was treated after he crashed his sport utility vehicle outside his home in a gated community in nearby Windermere last month. Holmberg, 57, arrived in the U.S. a few days ago, Yates said, just as her daughter grappled with fallout from the crash and the ensuing statement from Woods that he had extramarital “transgressions.” Woods and his wife have a 2-year-old daughter and an infant son. Family members visited Holmberg in the hospital, Yates said, but he did not specify whether Woods or his wife came. The family hired additional security to keep the media away. Yates would not speculate on what caused Holmberg’s stomach problems or whether she had suffered previously with that type of distress. Holmberg’s spokeswoman, Eva Malmborg, said she wasn’t aware that Holmberg suffered from any disease. Holmberg was expected back at her job as Gavleborg county governor in central-east Sweden next week, said her deputy, Olov Rydberg. Intense media scrutiny has followed the world’s No. 1 golfer since he hit a hydrant and a tree on Nov. 27 at about 2:25 a.m. Woods was cited for careless driving and fined $164. The attention didn’t let up on Tuesday, when dozens of live trucks, camera crews and reporters camped out on the hospital’s lawn, awaiting word of Holmberg’s condition. “I think she understands,” Yates said of Holmberg. The accident—and Woods’ refusal to answer questions about it—fueled speculation about a possible dispute between him and Elin. Just days before the crash, a National Enquirer story alleged Woods had been seeing a New York nightclub hostess, Rachel Uchitel, who has denied it. After the crash, Us Weekly reported that a Los Angeles cocktail waitress named Jaimee Grubbs claims she had a 31-month affair with Woods. Last week, Woods issued a statement saying he had let his family down with unspecified “transgressions” that he regrets with “all of my heart.” He did not elaborate. A police report released on Monday showed that a Florida trooper who suspected Woods was driving under the influence sought a subpoena for the golfer’s blood test results from the hospital, but prosecutors rejected the petition for insufficient information. A witness, who wasn’t identified in the report, told trooper Joshua Evans that Woods had been drinking alcohol earlier. The same witness also said Woods had been prescribed two drugs, the sleep aid Ambien and the painkiller Vicodin. The report did not say who the witness was but added it was the same person who pulled Woods from the vehicle after the accident. Woods’ wife has told police that she used a golf club to smash the back windows of the Cadillac Escalade to help her husband out. Although Woods’ injuries were minor, his agent, Mark Steinberg, used them as an excuse to cancel an interview with investigators the day after the accident, according to a call log released on Tuesday by the Florida Highway Patrol. Associated Press writers Mike Schneider in Orlando, Antonio Gonzalez in Windermere and Louise Nordstrom in Stockholm contributed to this report.