Tiger Woods acknowledged “living a lie,” saying he alone was responsible for the sex scandal that caused his shocking downfall from global sporting icon to late-night TV punchline.

“It was all me. I’m the one who did it. I’m the one who acted the way I acted. No one knew what was going on when it was going on,” Woods told the Golf Channel in one of two interviews Sunday night.

A second one was aired on ESPN, which also will televise the first two rounds of the Masters. Woods plans to end four months of seclusion and return to golf at the tournament next month. Talking about those plans marked the only time he smiled during either interview.

“I’m sure if more people would have known in my inner circle, they would have stopped it or tried to put a stop to it,” he told the Golf Channel. “But I kept it all to myself.”

Later in the same interview with reporter Kelly Tilghman, Woods refers to his serial adultery by saying, “I tried to stop, and I couldn’t stop. And it was just, it was horrific.”

Woods answered questions on camera for the first time since his early-morning car crash last November, yet again divulged few details about the crash, his marriage, his stint in a rehabilitation clinic or his personal life.

Woods insisted those matters would remain private, just as he had in a statement on his Web site right after his crash and again Feb. 19 when he apologized on camera in front of a hand-picked audience but took no questions.

“A lot of ugly things have happened. … I’ve done some pretty bad things in my life,” he told ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.

Golf

Furyk ends winless streak

Palm Harbor, Fla. — Jim Furyk closed with a 2-under 69 on Sunday for a one-shot win in the Transitions Championship, his first victory since 2007, to end his longest winless stretch since he first joined the tour 16 years ago.

Davies captures first title

Rabat, Morocco — Rhys Davies of Wales earned his first European Tour title Sunday, winning the Trophee Hassan II by two strokes.

NBA

Cavs recall Jackson

Cleveland — The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled forward Darnell Jackson from Erie of the NBA Development League.

Jackson was sent to Erie Saturday and had 32 points and 11 boards.

MLB

Mauer signs monster deal

Minneapolis — Joe Mauer is staying home.

The AL MVP agreed to a $184 million, eight-year contract extension with Minnesota on Sunday that includes a full no-trade clause, a massive deal that shows the Twins are no longer spending like a small-market club.

The deal covers the 2011-18 seasons and is the fourth largest — both in total value and average salary — in major-league history. Mauer will make $12.5 million this year in the final season of a $33 million, four-year deal and will earn $23 million in each of the following eight seasons under the extension.

The team said Sunday evening that neither Mauer nor team officials would comment until a news conference scheduled for 6 p.m. today at the team’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla.

Dodgers release Gagne

Glendale, Ariz. — Former Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne has been granted his release by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dodgers spokesman Joe Jareck said Gagne asked for his release Sunday, six days after he was reassigned to their minor-league camp. Gagne had an out clause and could have become a free agent, but initially accepted the assignment.

Gagne was attempting to make a comeback with the team for whom he successfully converted 84 straight save chances and won the 2003 Cy Young.

Nathan done for season

Fort Myers, Fla. — Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan will miss the 2010 season because of a right elbow injury that will require surgery.

Nathan, who leads the major leagues with 246 saves since 2004, made the decision after playing catch with Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson for 10 minutes Sunday.

Auto racing

Johnson tops at Bristol

Bristol, Tenn. — Jimmie Johnson won for the first time at Bristol Motor Speedway by driving from sixth to first in just three laps.

He plowed through the field on a restart with 10 laps to go Sunday, giving him his third victory this season and the 50th victory of his career.

Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth restarted side-by-side as leaders. Kenseth had trouble at the line, and traffic stacked up behind him. That allowed Johnson, who restarted in sixth, to grab four quick spots.