Factbox - Mixed reaction to Tiger Woods' statement

(Reuters) - Golf superstar Tiger Woods made his first public statement on Friday since taking an indefinite break from the game in December after admitting he cheated on his wife. Here is some reaction to his remarks:

"As a human being everyone has faults, makes mistakes and sins. We all do. But, we move on when we make a mistake and learn from it," said Woods' mother, Kultida. "He will come out stronger, a better person."

"We look forward to seeing Tiger back on the golf course when the time is right for him and his family," said one of his major sponsors, Electronic Arts Inc, adding that its relationship with Woods "remains unchanged."

"We look forward to him returning to golf," said Nike Inc, another major sponsor. Nike said it "fully supports him and his family."

"Trading was already quiet, but when Tiger came on everybody was looking at the TV screens," said Peter Adams, livestock trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. "They were mocking him," Adams said of the Chicago traders. "Only rich guys go to therapy for sex addiction, everybody else gets hit in the head with a frying pan."

"It's tough to get any man in America just to go to marriage counselling let alone go into a 45-day rehabilitation. Plus he's going back tomorrow, and that tells me that he's trying to learn about the issues ... to learn about the thought processes that caused the actions, so that he can cut them off next time," said Notah Begay, PGA golfer and a friend of Tiger from Stanford University days.

"We're supportive of whenever he comes back, whether it's three weeks from now, or three months from now, that's less important than when he comes back, he's prepared to play to resume his career in a positive way so that he's there for the long haul," said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who called Woods' public address "a good step."

"We wish Tiger well as he works through these private matters," said a spokesman for sponsor Gatorade, which is part of PepsiCo Inc.

"Tiger spoke today and addressed the issues he felt were most important. His words stand on their own. We wish him and his family the best," said a spokesman for Procter & Gamble's Gillette brand, adding that its sponsor relationship with Woods remained unchanged.

"It sounded heartfelt to me. It sounds like it was a really difficult thing for him to do. From a guy that's done a lot of tough things in golf over the years, it was probably one of the most difficult things he's ever had to do," said British Open champion Stewart Cink of the United States. "You have to make amends to the people you've hurt and you have to start the bridge to the other side. And I think that's where Tiger is."

"I think it was a sincere apology. He made it very clear that he wants media to leave his family alone, which I kind of agree with," said British golfer Luke Donald.

"He cut to the bottom line -- it's not about words, it's about actions. But he still left the big question mark of when he would return (to golf). We've had an apology but as golfers we're almost still back at square one," said six-time major tournament winner Nick Faldo of Britain.

"Today Tiger took a step in the right direction -- one of many he'll have to take towards the long-term repair of his reputation," said communications specialist Michael Gordon, chief executive of Group Gordon Strategic Communications in New York. But Woods seemed "rehearsed and scripted" and "unfortunately, by not answering any questions today, he's invited more questions."

"He lacked the passion and conviction that are essential to a sincere apology. ... People don't listen with the ears but with their stomachs and I'm not sure he struck the right chord with that presentation," said Michael Cherenson, immediate past chairman of the Public Relations Society of America. "He was probably more persuasive with his mistresses."

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor, Jackie Frank, Phil Wahba, Jerry Beiszk, Mark Lamport-Stokes and Jane Sutton; Editing by Peter Cooney)