Tiger Woods could be granted forgiveness for sins, not Bernie Madoff: Poll

Tiger Woods could be forgiven for cheating on his wife with several women, but not Ponzi king Bernie Madoff, says a survey.

According to the 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll, if given a choice to pardon someone, Americans were willing to excuse the ace golfer for his womanising ways before actor Charlie Sheen, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, singer Chris Brown or director Roman Polanski.

As many as 22% said they would forgive Woods as compared to Sheen (12%), Edwards (5%) and Brown (3%), the New York Post reported.

Not even one was said to be in favour of showing mercy to Madoff, who was sentenced to 150 years behind bars last year for conning investors with his $64 billion swindle.

The poll, posted on the CBS News Web site, also found that 32% would forgive all of them, while 15% were not ready to forgive any of the five men.