THOUSAND OAKS, California – Tiger Woods's PGA Tour friends and rivals were largely supportive Wednesday of the star who has taken their game to an unprecedented level of global prominence.

Woods offered a "profound apology" on his website for "transgressions" in his family life, as a magazine posted what it claimed was evidence of an extramarital affair between the golfer and a cocktail waitress.

Golfer Steve Stricker welcomed the golfing legend's move to address allegations that have swirled for five days, ever since Woods crashed his car in mysterious circumstances outside his Florida home.

But Stricker, like many of his fellow pros, wasn't sure just how much explanation Woods owed to anyone other than his wife, Elin Nordegren.

"I was happy to see it come out a little bit, not happy on what was said in there, but just happy that he came out and addressed it," Stricker said. "But I'm on that fence whether it's even any of our business or not.

"I wish it could have just been handled with Elin and Tiger if there was a problem. Do we really need to know? I guess that's the bottom line," he added.

"Everybody likes to get into these celebrities' personal lives and it's all fascinating and everything. But deep down what does it really matter?"

Stricker is among the 18 golfers scheduled to tee it up Thursday in the Chevron World Challenge, an event Woods has hosted annually to benefit his charitable foundation.

The golfing star announced Monday in the midst of the media storm that he would not attend the tournament at Thousand Oaks, near Los Angeles.

Stricker acknowledged that the hugely popular 14-time major champion would eventually have to do a little image rebuilding, but said his vast army of fans worldwide would prove forgiving.

"I think his image is going to take a little bit of a shot," Stricker said, expressing hope that Woods would make television appearances to "pour it out" and explain what happened.

"People forget, and if he just does the right things from here on out, people will forgive him and move on."

Yet Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, who once employed Nordegren -- a former Swedish model -- as a nanny and introduced Woods to the woman who became his wife, was not so supportive.

Speaking to the Golf Channel from the PGA Tour's qualifying tournament in West Palm Beach, Florida, Parnevik showed dismay at the golfer's admission of "transgressions."

"I really feel sorry for Elin -- since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him," Parnevik said. "We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologize to her.

"It's a private thing of course," he added. "But when you are the guy he is, the world's best athlete, you should think more before you do stuff."

Rising US star Anthony Kim said Woods had generously supported him in his early days on the tour and deserved credit for his professionalism in the face of constant public scrutiny.

"He has done so much for the game of golf, so much for other people. His charities are tremendous and support so many kids and their futures," said Kim, who is playing in the Chevron World Challenge.

"Whatever the problems may be and all the speculation, you wish the best for him," he added. "I know he's going to come out a better man out of this."

The Woods family should be allowed to deal with matters in private, urged former Masters Champion Zach Johnson, also in Thousand Oaks.

"My belief system is that it is a time for forgiveness and a time for putting things aside and trying to become better people," he said. "I hope they get through it and if I can be of any support, I'm here."

The golfer's stature meant his predicament was news throughout the sports world.

"The best thing you can do is manage it the best way that you can," said LeBron James, star of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.

"You can't mirror anybody else's image. You just have to do it and figure out what works for you and go from there."

Tom Brady, the superstar quarterback of the New England Patriots, who gets his share of attention on the celebrity gossip circuit as husband of supermodel Gisele Bundchen, said all public figures nowadays must be aware of the spotlight shining brightly on them.

"You have to understand what comes along with that and try to make the best decisions you can," Brady said.