Ask Dr. Elia!

Tiger Woods is the world’s most successful athlete, at least when it comes to income.

During his illustrious career he has become the first athlete in history to earn more than $1 billion (that’s correct: “billion”) from sponsorships and winning tournaments. Ever since he appeared on the Johnny Carson show at the age of 4 with a little golf club in his hands, he has seemed destined for greatness.

It’s rare to see a child prodigy in any field, whether in sports, music, art, science or entertainment, live up to his or her destiny as an adult. It’s even more seldom to have someone supersede those expectations.

Tiger Woods has done just that. He has won 14 major golf tournaments, leaving him just four short of the legendary Jack Nicklaus’ career record of 18 majors won. He’s only 33, and up until recently, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before he broke that hallowed record and became the greatest golfer in history.

He has played through pain and injury in a heroic way and still was able to win. His discipline, hard work and passion for the game are legendary.

On the home front, he’s been married to a supermodel and has two adorable children. He had kept a clean-cut image, earning endorsements unlike any other celebrity in history.

Was it all too good to be true?

Apparently yes, as recent revelations of alleged multiple affairs from a variety of women have inundated the airwaves and the Internet. After initially calling them “transgressions,” Tiger has come out and apologized for his infidelity. He has asked for forgiveness and has decided to take a break from golf, to try and save his marriage and family. It’s good to see that he has realized the true priorities in his life.

If it’s not too late. Only time will tell.

Some of his sponsors are already jumping ship, like Accenture, a leading management consulting firm. This company built its image around Woods with slogans such as “Go on. Be a Tiger” and “We know what it takes to be a Tiger.”

Accenture’s statement for its action says it all: “The company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising.”

Ouch! The damage he has caused himself is not only financial — he may end up losing his family, even his legacy.

So the big question is, why would someone who seemingly had everything in this world — fame, fortune, unprecedented talent, a beautiful family — risk it all for a few (or a lot of) moments of fleeting pleasure? What would compel him to throw it all away?

Over the last 20 years, I have worked with people from all walks of life, some highly successful both from a professional perspective as well as a personal one — meaning they had wonderful families and a great life. Obviously not as famous as Tiger but with much to lose. Similar behaviors have eventually led to similar painful revelations.

Just as it was true in their case, I am convinced that the only explanation for Tiger’s behaviors is that he has a sexual addiction. I’m not excusing his behavior, but I am suggesting that this goes a lot deeper than he made a one-night-stand-kind-of mistake.

The pattern of recklessness is truly astounding!

The solution rests with his willingness to address his problems head-on with humility, diligence and the same work ethic that made him so successful on the golf course.

A good start would be to embrace the first two steps of the 12-step recovery program: Admit that he’s powerless over lust and that his life has become unmanageable; and that a power greater than himself can restore him to sanity.

His recovery has to be based not only on changing his behaviors, but his heart and mind as well. He will need a strong support system and people who, because they love him, will tell him the truth and hold him accountable. Sometimes that seems to be the Achilles heel of the rich and famous: lack of accountability.

Having lost the respect of millions of his fans already and most likely his family, I hope this time away from the spotlight is well-spent in getting his life back on track. In the end, most people can be really forgiving if they see a sincere and genuine change of heart.

I hope Tiger can do it for his family, fans and — most of all — for himself.

Dr. Elia Gourgouris is a nationally known speaker, relationship coach, and the president of LDSCoaching.com. With over 20 years of experience, he has inspired thousands of individuals and couples to find greater happiness and fulfillment, both in their careers and their personal lives. He holds a degree from UCLA and a Ph.D. in psychology. Dr. Gourgouris speaks to groups around the country regarding women’s issues, self esteem, communications skills, and relationships. He is also a favorite presenter at both BYU and BYU-ID Education Weeks, and Time Out for Women conferences. He is the author of “DTR: What You Need to Know Before You Get Married” and he has an upcoming CD entitled “The Multi-Platinum Marriage: Going from Just Surviving to Thriving!” He and his wife, Sona, live near Boulder, Colorado, with their children.