Admitting publicly for the first time that he’s been unfaithful to Elin Nordegren, his wife of five years, Woods said he’ll be taking an indefinite break from professional golf. Considering that Woods’s next start on the PGA Tour likely would have been the last week in January, there’s no telling how long the break might be - the Masters is in April - or when the world’s top-ranked golfer will return. At the moment, flushing a 5-iron and flashing his trademark fist pump after a crucial putt seem to be the least of his concerns.

In a statement posted on his website yesterday, Woods said, “I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.

“I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding . . . After much soul-searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.’’

Like previous statements Woods has issued since this saga began, he also asked for privacy in dealing with the mess he’s created, adding that his family needs a “safe haven’’ for personal healing.

In response to Woods’s announcement, the PGA Tour issued its own statement.

“We fully support Tiger’s decision to step away from competitive golf to focus on his family,’’ the Tour’s statement said. “His priorities are where they need to be, and we will continue to respect and honor his family’s request for privacy. We look forward to Tiger’s return to the PGA Tour when he determines the time is right for him.’’

It’s been a damaging fortnight for Woods, one that has seen his well-crafted image severely sullied by a curious crash, his repeated decision to stonewall the police, and reports of multiple extramarital affairs, complete with incriminating voice mails and tawdry text messages.

It began with a one-car crash at 2:25 a.m. outside his home in Windermere, Fla., the morning after Thanksgiving. When news of the accident broke, saying that Woods was in serious condition in a Florida hospital, the attention focused on his health and the seriousness of his injuries. By the time the story became public, some 12 hours later, Woods had already been treated for facial lacerations and released.

Within hours, however, more details emerged, none of which seemed to indicate this was simply a careless mistake behind the wheel. The police report said Nordegren used a golf club to smash two back windows of Woods’s SUV following the crash, which came two days after a National Enquirer story linked Woods to a New York City nightclub promoter. Woods then refused repeated attempts by the Florida Highway Patrol to talk about the accident (an investigation ultimately cited Woods for careless driving and resulted in a $164 fine).

As the media pressure intensified, Woods remained silent. He’s issued only five statements since the crash, granted no interviews, and hasn’t been seen in public.

Woods might not be talking, but the women he’s reportedly had affairs with have been vocal. At least a dozen have claimed to have had relationships with Woods, some providing what appears to be solid evidence, in the form of voice mails and text messages. Woods said on Dec. 2 he regretted the “transgressions’’ that let down his family (Woods and Nordegren have a 2-year-old daughter and a 10-month-old son), but until yesterday hadn’t publicly admitted cheating on his wife.

The swirling storm enveloping one of the world’s most famous athletes has already produced ramifications. Woods has made more than $92 million in PGA Tour earnings, but Forbes magazine has called him the first athlete to amass more than $1 billion. The bulk of that has been from endorsements, and in the past week, Gatorade said it had ended its Tiger Focus line, but said the decision was made months ago.

We might be months away from seeing Woods on the golf course. If “indefinite break’’ means he won’t be competing in the tournaments he typically plays, it could be a while. Woods missed the early part of last season recovering from knee surgery, but in the three years prior, from 2006-08, Woods completed only four PGA Tour events in each season prior to the Masters, the year’s first major.

Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com.