Tiger Woods recent troubles have brought attention back to his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren.
Woods was recently arrested on suspicion of DUI, but maintains that he was suffering an adverse reaction to prescription medications and that he immediately pulled over his vehicle. So far, police accounts seem to back up his story, as his breathalyzer test registered a 0.00 BAC.
But while Woods may be vindicated in his most recent brush with the law, the incident reminded many of the golf legend’s single-vehicle accident in December of 2009. That led to revelations of infidelity; Woods admitted to cheating on Elin Nordegren, his wife at the time.
She eventually received $100 million when divorcing Woods, and most people haven’t heard much more from Nordegren. Here’s what she’s been up to in the years following the highly publicized divorce—and how she met one of the world’s most famous athletes.
Nordegren was the nanny to the children of Mia Parnevik.
Parnevik is the wife of Swedish professional golfer Jesper Parnevik, who knew Woods from competition.
Jesper introduced Nordegren to his friend, a decision he has come to regret.
“I’m kind of filled with sorrow for Elin since me and my wife are at fault for hooking her up with him, and we probably thought he was a better guy than he is,” Parnevik told reporters in 2009. “I would probably have to apologize to her and hope she uses a driver next time instead of a three-iron.”
In October of 2004, Woods and Nordegren were married, and in 2007, they welcomed a daughter, Sam Alexis Woods. In 2009, the couple had another child, Charlie Axel Woods.
But soon after, the marriage fell apart.
Their divorce was finalized in 2010, and Nordegren received $100 million, according to media reports (although the exact settlement wasn’t published).
“We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future,” the couple said in a joint statement.
Nordegren used some of her money to purchase a $12.3 million Florida mansion, which she demolished and re-built on the advice of an architect. Prior to the demolition, she donated valuable items from the 1920s-era home to Habitat for Humanity. The items were estimated at a value of $30,000, according to the charity organization.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Nordegren stayed largely out of the public eye over the next several years.
However, she eventually granted an interview to People.
“I have moved on and I am in a good place,” Nordegren said. “My relationship with Tiger is centered around our children and we are doing really good–we really are–and I am so happy that is the case. He is a great father.”
She also revealed that she received years of therapy after the split.
“In the beginning, you tamp down the animosity for the kids’ sake,” she said, referring to the time after the divorce. “I’m not going to deny that I went through the wringer. But I don’t think I doubted we’d end up here. That was always my dream, that the kids can have two loving parents that show respect for each other. And I feel that’s what they have.”
Tiger Woods agreed in a 2015 interview.
“She’s been one of my best friends and I’ve talked to her about so many different things and she does the same thing with me. We go back and forth,” the golfer told Stephen Colbert of The Late Show.
“We communicate so much better now, it’s incredible. I wish we would have done that earlier on, but it’s been incredible to have a best friend like that.”
