Tiger Woods
The tiger is a lion daddy
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In love he always causes scandals. But golf legend Tiger Woods has a good relationship with his children. This is also due to his ex-wife.
Her voice trembles a little. But then the 16-year-old shakes off all excitement and gives her speech as planned. Alexis Woods, known to everyone as Sam, is the eulogist when her father is inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Tiger Woods, 48, is the most successful golfer in the world. And for Sam, it becomes clear, he is her greatest role model.
Tiger Woods: He doesn’t take his daughter’s love for granted
She also brings up the time when her father was in a serious car accident in April 2021. “We didn’t know whether you would come home with two legs or not,” she says, visibly touched. And further: “You’re not just going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. You’re standing on your own two feet here. That’s why you deserve this. Because you’re a fighter.” Tiger Woods nods with emotion and then fights back tears during his acceptance speech. Because his daughter’s unconditional love cannot be taken for granted.
Flashback: In the fall of 2009 – Sam was just two years old, her brother Charlie was 1 – Tiger Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren separated in a heated argument in which she smashed the rear window of his car with a golf club. Shortly afterwards, scandalous headlines about the professional golfer’s dozens of affairs follow, ex-lovers openly talk about their dates, and Elin Nordegren is pitied as “the most cheated wife in America”. Nine months later, the couple divorced and Tiger Woods went to therapy for “sex addiction.”
Woods has his ex to thank for his regular contact with his children
Recently, there were renewed War of the Roses headlines: Entrepreneur Erica Herman, 38, with whom Woods was together from 2017 to 2022, is suing him. It’s about the right to live in his villa and claims for damages of $30 million. They settle out of court. When it comes to love, Tiger Woods still hasn’t found peace today.
What a contrast there is in his relationship with his children. “I love being with them and seeing what they do, what they’re capable of. It’s just fun. We have a great time together,” emphasized Tiger Woods back in 2012.
This is mainly thanks to ex-wife Elin Nordegren. Despite all the humiliation and disappointment, she ensured that Tiger had regular contact with his children. And over the years, a close relationship has even developed between her and her ex. “We’re like best friends,” says Tiger Woods. This was probably also possible because Tiger was remorseful: “I told the children: The reason why we don’t live under one roof as a family is because Daddy made some mistakes.”
The love of sport connects father and children
What connects father and childrenis the love of sport. From an early age, Charlie was interested in everything athletic. Tiger: “All Charlie needed was a stick and a ball and he was happy.” He obviously wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and won his first tournaments at the age of eleven. Sam, who was named after Tiger Woods’ childhood nickname, also loves golf. A family anecdote goes: When she was a few weeks old, her father put a golf club in her hands – even though she obviously couldn’t hold it properly. So dad helped a little with his love of golf.
Successful: In December, at the PNC Championship in Orlando, both children were on the green with Tiger. Charlie as a teammate, Sam as a caddy at her father’s side.
Charlie, Sam and Tiger Woods at the PNC Championship in December.
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Charlie and Sam even compete in tournaments together with their dad
And you see that they’re not just playing golf to impress their famous father, but that they’re actually having fun doing it. And a completely natural relationship with him. They chat in a relaxed manner and talk shop while Sam hands Tiger the club, or joke while teeing off. Tiger says enthusiastically: “The fact that I was able to be part of this golf tournament with my two children was something very special for me, it couldn’t have been better. We often play together at home, but to be able to compete in a tournament together is really great .”
Tiger Woods may have missed a lot as a husband and partner, but as a father he did a lot right.