Inside the reinvention of a sporting icon: Tiger Woods’ meteoric rise collapsed in a humiliating downfall with a sex scandal that cost him his marriage. As the former couple make rare public appearance, how golfing superstar staged greatest comeback

If every picture tells a story there still seems to be a little distance between Tiger Woods and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren.

The former couple made a rare public appearance together as they celebrated son Charlie, 15, winning a high school state golf championship in Florida.

Woods, 48, could barely contain his pride but stood awkwardly apart as Charlie showed off his medal and championship ring alongside Elin, 44, and her 15-month-old son whose father is a former American footballer.

It is thought to be the first time the pair have been photographed together in public for 10 years and comes as Woods once again attempts to relaunch his once-glittering career at the US Masters in two weeks time.

Despite their acrimonious split 15 years ago, the former couple have remained close behind the scenes for the sake of their children who appear to be the one stable influence in the tumultuous life of the golfing legend.

Just weeks ago Woods insisted ‘there will certainly be another chapter’ in his extraordinary life story which has seen his meteoric fame collapse into a humiliating downfall – before he staged one of sport’s greatest ever comebacks by capturing his 15th major title in 2019.

Tiger Woods came face to face with ex-wife Elin Nordegren this week as the divorced couple attended their son Charlie’s high school state golf championship ceremonyWoods was married to Swedish model Nordegren for six years before divorcing in 2010Woods staged one of sport’s greatest ever comebacks by capturing his 15th major title in 2019 (pictured)

While Woods hopes to launch his latest bid for glory with the support of his family, it was the circumstances surrounding the collapse of his marriage in 2009 which led to his spectacular fall from grace.

Back then Woods – believed by many to be golf’s greatest ever player – was the world’s biggest sports star with 14 major championship wins under his belt and earnings of an estimated $1billion.

On the surface the multi-millionaire, who won his first major title aged just 21 in 1997, had it all after after marrying Elin, a Swedish former swimsuit model and nanny, in a romantic sunset beachside ceremony in Barbados in October 2004.

The couple were introduced three years earlier by Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, whom Elin was nannying for at the time.

During their time together Woods’ career went from strength to strength as he won back to back Open Championships titles in 2004 and 2005 along with seven other major titles including the 2008 US Open.

In June 2007 Woods celebrated becoming a father for the first time after the birth of daughter Samantha, now 16.

But just months after the birth of Charlie in February 2009, Woods’ superstar status began to unravel virtually overnight after Elin discovered her husband had cheated on her with a New York City nightclub hostess called Rachel Uchitel.

Uchitel has told how Elin called her from Woods’ phone after discovering romantic text messages between the two.

Woods pictured with his ex Elin Nordegren during the opening Ceremony for the 34th Ryder Cup on September 26, 2002Woods shared a warm embrace with his son after reuniting with his former partnerThe golf legend’s infamous cheating scandal brought his marriage with Nordegren to an endThe golfing icon and Nordegren had a daughter, Sam, together as well as their son Charlie

After confronting Woods at their Florida home during Thanksgiving, Elin reportedly chased Woods from the property armed with a gold club and smashed two back windows as he tried to flee in the early hours in his Cadillac Escalade.

Police were called by neighbours after Woods crashed the SUV into a fire hydrant and tree before he was rushed to hospital.

In the days following the incident a series of women, including porn stars, strippers and escorts, came forward alleging they had sexual relationships with the golfer.

Woods admitted having affairs and publicly apologised to his family before announcing an ‘indefinite break’ from the game and checking into a rehab clinic to reportedly be treated for sex addiction.

After almost six years of marriage, Woods and Elin divorced in August 2010.

It later emerged Woods had been battling demons after the death of his father Earl Woods in 2006 and had seemingly been leading a tawdry secret double life.

Elin pictured holding Sam as a baby during the years of her marriage to the golfersLast November, Woods’ ex-girlfriend Erica Herman dropped legal action against the golfer

In 2021 an HBO documentary claimed Woods ordered up to 10 prostitutes at a time during wild parties in Las Vegas which cost $100,000 or more for the weekend.

After returning to golf in 2010, Woods failed to win a single tournament but had scrambled his way back to world number one by 2013.

After the couple split in 2015 Woods went on to date personal stylist Kristin Smith while his career was plagued by a series of injuries which had seen him compete in just 24 in four years.

In
Just weeks after his surgery, he hit rock bottom again when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence near his Florida home.

He was discovered asleep at the wheel of his damaged car and was later found to have a cocktail of strong painkillers, sleep and anxiety drugs and THC, which is a chemical component of marijuana, in his system.

Woods also dated Lindsey Vonn for three years, before they announced a split in 2015

Woods was placed on 12 months probation after admitting reckless driving.

Reports claimed Woods checked into a rehabilitation centre in order to keep shared custody of his children after the incident.

During his return to action in November that year, Woods revealed the depth of his physical struggles saying: ‘I’ve been in bed for about two years and haven’t been able to do much’.

Just as it appeared there was no way back for Woods, his extraordinary tale of redemption seemed complete on April 14 2019 at Augusta when he claimed his fifth US Masters title.

It was Woods’ first major championship victory in 11 years and his children were there to share in his joy at winning one of golf’s biggest tournaments for the first time.

But there was more heartache to come. Just days after undergoing back surgery, Woods was lucky to escape death after an horrific car smash in California in February 2021.

Woods was travelling alone when his SUV veered off the road at high speed, colliding with the centre kerb and a tree before rolling several times at the roadside.

After being pulled from the wreckage by rescuers he underwent emergency surgery after suffering a fractured leg and shattered ankle.

In 2017, Woods was arrested for DUI and described by police as ‘confused and woozy’

Remarkably, he was back on the course just 10 months after the crash to compete with Charlie at a high-profile event in December 2021.

There were further troubles away from golf after the end of a six-year relationship with Erica Herman, who had been the former manager of a restaurant owned by Woods in Jupiter, Florida.

The pair became locked in a legal battle amid claims of sexual harassment and allegations Erica had been tricked into leaving the $40 million where they had lived before their break up in October 2022.

Last November Erica dropped the action and insisted there she ‘was never a victim of sexual harassment or sexual abuse’.

Woods faced criticism this week from his former agent who helped launch him on the road to his extraordinary success.

Hughes Norton, who worked with Woods for 10 years at the start of his career, said the golfer had ‘no social skills’ and claimed he had ‘a zombie’ like approach to ending relationships – including those with the women in his life.

He told the Daily Mail: ‘The solace I can take, which doesn’t provide much, is this: He was an equal opportunity zombie with relationships.

‘When it’s over it’s over. It is the way he terminates relationships with everyone.

‘Whether it’s girlfriends, whether it’s his former golf coaches.

‘It’s ironic, really. In a way he’s so good at confrontation on the golf course. If he’s playing you, he will beat your brains out every single time. But when it comes to confronting things like me and other people that are in his life, he has no social skills whatsoever. It’s maddening, actually.’

If that’s the case it seems the one exception is his relationship with Elin and their children.

Elin, who has two young children with former NFL star Jordan Cameron, still has a home in Florida as the couple continue to remain close while sharing the responsibilities of raising their children.

In his 2017 memoir Tiger Woods – Unprecedented, The Masters and Me he wrote of their split: ‘My regret will last a lifetime.’

He added: ‘Still, Elin and I are devoted to our kids, and we have become best friends as we care for them. It’s all about the kids for us.’

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