Informing an ex about a new romantic partner can be uncomfortable for anyone. However, Tiger Woods faced heightened tension when he revealed the surprising identity of his latest secret girlfriend.
The well-known ladies’ man felt compelled to inform his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, about his relationship with Vanessa Trump, 47. This decision stemmed from his concern that details of their affair might become public knowledge, reports the Daily Mail.
A close friend of the 49-year-old golfing icon stated, “‘Tiger knew it was going to get out eventually so he had to make the phone call to Elin before his love life ended up in the newspapers again.’ The friend added, ‘He’s made similar calls in the past regarding other women, but this situation felt different.’
Woods picked up the phone to Nordegren, 45, in late December or early January, according to the friend. He revealed to her that their two children were spending time with none other than the president’s former daughter-in-law, Don Jr’s ex.
The Daily Mail broke the story of the Woods-Trump shock romance last week.
Nordegren, a 45-year-old Swedish model, was married to the 15-time major champion for six years until his affairs with multiple women were uncovered in 2009, leading to the spectacular implosion of their relationship.
The awkward phone call, which lasted only a few minutes, was very civil in nature.
‘It was a pleasant, almost friendly conversation,’ the insider says. ‘Tiger and Elin are supportive of each other.’
Tiger Woods used a phone call to break the news to his ex-wife Elin Nordegren that he was dating Vanessa Trump and that she was spending time with their children
Daily Mail first broke the story that Woods and Trump began dating around Thanksgiving. They are pictured arriving at the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in California last month
While Nordegren is not political, our source says she saw the inherent humor of Woods dating the mother to five of the president’s grandchildren.
‘Her response at first was like “Seriously? A Trump? For real?”,’ the insider says. ‘She was more amused than anything. But she really quickly just accepted it.’
‘They’re not the type to give each other their “blessing” per se, but they keep each other in the loop with anyone who is going to spend any amount of time around the kids.’
‘Elin isn’t one to react to things emotionally,’ said the friend, who knows both Woods and Nordegren. ‘So she just processed the information and wished them well.’
During the phone call Woods told Nordegren — the mother of his children Sam, 17, and Charlie, 16 — that the romance was not, at that time, serious.
But he did say Trump was spending more time around the family.
‘She likes the kids; they like her,’ says the insider. ‘So there was really no reason for any drama with Elin. It was more of a call so she didn’t learn about it in the news.’
The source added that golf’s new power couple love ‘hanging out’ but weren’t planning to make lots of public appearances together.
But last month they were spotted together at the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in California.
In February, Vanessa took her 17-year-old daughter Kai to watch a round of the TGL, the golf league created by Woods and Rory McIlroy.
Meanwhile, President Trump met up with Woods for a round of golf last month.
Woods arrived at the tournament alongside Trump’s daughter and aspiring professional golfer Kai Trump. Her mother is pictured on the left
The 45-year-old former Swedish model was married to the 15-time major champion for six years until his affairs with multiple women were uncovered
During their phone call Woods told Nordegren – the mother of his children Sam, 17, and Charlie, 16 – that the romance with Trump was not serious
Woods and Vanessa live just 20 minutes apart from each other in the wealthy southern Florida enclave of Palm Beach and were spotted together at a golf tournament last month.
‘I don’t think Elin was flabbergasted,’ says the pal. ‘He’s told her about several girlfriends since they divorced. The only surprise this time was who the girlfriend was.’
Vanessa was married to Donald Trump Jr, 47, from 2005 to 2018. They have five children together, including Kai, who attends the $38,595-a-year The Benjamin School with Woods’ kids.
Kai, the eldest granddaughter of President Trump, is a talented golfer who plans to attend the University of Miami after graduation.
The Trump family was not a stranger to Woods’ ex, who is often seen around The Benjamin School.
‘The school really requires parental involvement,’ says the Woods pal.
‘So their paths crossed a lot, they had a lot of people in their circles. It’s a community where they saw each other frequently. So Elin also knew exactly who Vanessa was.’
Nordegren is not the only one who has accepted the romance. Don Jr, who is now dating Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, is reportedly ‘cool’ with his ex-wife’s new relationship.
‘He pretty much signs off on it,’ says the Woods pal, ‘but it’s not like anyone will be double dating soon.’
Nordegren was married to Woods from 2004 until their divorce in 2010, a year after is infidelities became public and sparked a relentless media circus.
The scandal went nuclear on Black Friday of 2009, just days after the tabloids broke the news of his affair with a cocktail waitress.
After an argument inside the family home, Woods ran barefoot to his black Cadillac Escalade and tried to escape the home.
Nordegren chased after the vehicle, smashing the rear window with one of his golf clubs.
Nordegren (pictured in 2024) has attended the same golf tournaments as Woods to support their son Charlie’s efforts to follow in his father’s footsteps
Don Jr and Vanessa Kay Pergolizzi married in 1998 and had five children together before they divorced at the end of 2018. Pictured: Vanessa and Don arrive at the Angel Ball at the Marriott Marquis in New York City on October 29, 2007
While Elin Nordegren is not political an insider says that she took a moment to digest the identity of her ex’s new love interest. She is pictured with Woods after he won the 2010 PGA Championship
President Donald listens as Tiger Woods speaks during reception for Black History Month in the East Room of the White House Thursday, Feb 20
Woods addresses the world’s media in 2010 after he admitted to cheating on Nordegren with multiple women. In a statement he said it was a private matter
Woods begged his wife for forgiveness, and even entered rehab for sex addiction. But his pleas were unsuccessful and Nordegren filed for divorce in 2010.
She received a reported $100 million divorce settlement.
But friends say that Nordegren has largely forgiven her ex-husband for his philandering ways and supports him dating anyone he wants.
‘She’s not political and from what I know she wouldn’t be a Trump supporter,’ says the friend, ‘but I don’t think that really factors into her feelings. She just wants to make sure that the kids are around good people.’
Woods was preparing for his latest golf comeback and had set his sights on competing in The Masters in August.
But his career suffered a major setback when he revealed two weeks ago he had ruptured his Achilles tendon and was undergoing surgery.
