Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren, despite their high-profile infidelity scandal from over a decade ago, are now working together to raise their two children.
Initially, Nordegren was babysitting for professional golfer Jesper Parnevik, who introduced Woods to her. They started a family three years after they started dating, with the birth of their daughter, Sam, in 2007, and a son, Charlie, in 2009.
In the same year that Charlie was born, it was revealed that Woods had multiple affairs, including a serious commitment to Rachel Uchitel. On Thanksgiving of 2009, Nordegren confronted Woods about his extramarital affairs. In August of the following year, they carried out their divorce.
How do Woods and Nordegren co-parent their children in the aftermath of this devastating affair that shook the world?
Inside Tiger Woods And Elin Nordegren's Co-Parenting Journey
In the fall of 2009, Woods invited Rachel Uchitel to the Australian Masters to see him play. Rumors began to circulate, so the golfer had his then-girlfriend call his then-wife to clear the air and lie about them having a platonic relationship.
Nordegren called Uchitel later that month after discovering proof that Woods had been unfaithful to her. Uchitel tells People about the incident, saying, "I answered saying something like, 'Hey babe, I thought you went to sleep.' And instead of Tiger's voice, it was Elin and she said, 'I knew it was you.'"
A number of women have come forward to claim that they, too, had affairs with Woods before he entered rehab for his sex addiction.
Following his 45 days of treatment, Woods spoke to the media in February of 2010.
"I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled,” he said. “Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them. I was wrong. I was foolish.”
Later that year, in August of 2010, Nordegren and Woods formalized their divorce. Reportedly, Nordegren received $110 million in the settlement despite not having signed a prenuptial agreement.
Woods told Time in 2015, five years after the end of his marriage, that his ex-wife is one of his "best friends." He elaborated:
“Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time.. She talks to me about her life, I talk to her about my life. We try and help each other out on all occasions. And we work through it with the kids, the parenting program. She is one of my best friends now, and it’s all because of my kids.”
To add insult to injury, Woods admitted in his 2017 book Tiger Woods: Unprecedented, The Masters and Me that his shame over the controversy "will last a lifetime."
He wrote, “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.”
Elin Nordegren Believed Tiger Woods Would Remain A Great Father Even After The Divorce
The split between Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods was met with a wide range of reactions from fans and the couple's inner circle.
Many wondered how the exes would handle the delicate situation they found themselves in, especially by the fact that their children were involved and that they would have to co-parent after the divorce.
Nordegren was certain that Woods would turn out to be a decent dad despite the family's new circumstances, even as the rest of the world wondered what would happen to the family.
According to Bleacher Report, she still anticipated that they would get through hard patches in their divorce for the sake of their children.
Indeed, this is what transpired. Woods and his ex-wife Nordegren were careful to raise their children without letting their split impact them. They were fully aware of the importance of both parents during a child's formative years and did not hesitate to play their parts.
Elin said the same thing and lauded Tiger for being a good dad in the early years of their separation and divorce.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, she said, “In the beginning, you tamp down the animosity for the kids’ sake. 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.”
Even if the events that led to Nordegren and Tiger Woods' divorce had a profound effect on their relationship, they were determined to shield their kids from any negative effects.
Did Tiger Woods Tell His Kids About His Cheating Scandal?
Tiger Woods and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren share joint custody of their children, Sam, 15, and Charlie, 14. They may soon learn more about their father than they bargained for, thanks to the Internet. And it seems Woods has already started getting ready for it.
In an interview with Charlie Rose in 2016, Woods discussed how he had handled the topic of his adultery with his children.
“I’ve said, ‘Everybody makes mistakes, and the reason why Mommy’s living in her house and Daddy’s living in his house is because Daddy made mistakes, and it’s OK,’” he recalled.
As for Nordegren, Tiger called her his "best friend" and that he was sorry the incident had been exposed in 2009.
“In hindsight, it’s not how I would change 2009 and how it all came about. It would be having a more open, honest relationship with my ex-wife,” he said. “When it comes down to it, right down to it, it’s just having a more open, honest relationship with my ex-wife when we were married. Our frustrations would have come out if we had talked about it and been open and honest with each other. Which we are now, and it’s absolutely fantastic.”
Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods' parenting of their children after going through a very public and acrimonious divorce is admirable. Many people did not anticipate the couple to stay in touch after their divorce, let alone be in a solid co-parenting relationship.
