Divorce the price of shamed Woods's cheating

TIGER Woods's marriage was formally dissolved in a Florida court yesterday, bringing a formal end to a relationship left in tatters by his infidelity.

The golfer's world began to unravel after he crashed his car on

November 27 last year with speculation the collision with a fire hydrant and a tree outside his luxury home came after he rowed with wife Elin Nordegren, a former swimwear model.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Gossip websites in the United States began speculating the incident was connected to reports earlier that week in the National Enquirer alleging an affair with New York nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel.

It was the beginning of a scandal that rapidly overshadowed the golfer's sporting achievements.

Two days after the accident, Woods released a statement. "I'm human and I'm not perfect," he said. "I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again.

"This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way."

But as the furore continued, including criticism of Woods by Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik who had introduced him to Ms Nordegren and details of more alleged affairs, on December 11 Woods released a statement apologising for his "infidelity" and announcing he would be taking an "indefinite break" from golf.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In the meantime, he lost sponsorship deals with Gatorade and Accenture, while other endorsement deals were scaled down.

He kept his counsel until a carefully choreographed Press conference on February 19.

"I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated. What I did is not

acceptable and I am the only person to blame. I stopped living by the core values I was taught to believe in", he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I knew my actions were wrong but I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. I never thought about who I was hurting, instead I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries a married couple should live by."

He also said: "Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behaviour."

Woods, who went into in therapy, has returned to golf with limited success and is in danger of losing his status as the best golfer in the world.

Details of the divorce settlement will be kept private, although they will share parenting of their two young children.