Elin Nordegren’s brief time working abroad led to an unexpected introduction that changed the course of her life. Years later, a single night would thrust her into an intense media spotlight. In the aftermath, she navigated the fallout of a broken marriage and gradually built a new life.
Her marriage to one of the most successful athletes of his time ended in a widely publicized split that marked a turning point in her life. In the months that followed, she faced intense media coverage and personal challenges, all while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy for her young family.
Years later, she has built a life that bears little resemblance to the one she left behind. She has moved forward with a renewed focus on family and career — away from the spotlight that once surrounded her. Long before the public ever knew her name, she had a very different life planned for herself.
Meeting Tiger Woods and Their Marriage
Nordegren, born and raised in Vaxholm, a small town outside of Stockholm, Sweden, first met Tiger Woods in 2001 through Jesper Parnevik, a Swedish golfer, for whom she worked as an au pair at the time.
The Parneviks introduced her to the 25-year-old golfer during a PGA Tour event. Woods was 25 and already a rising figure in professional golf, while Nordegren was 21 and had no plans to remain in the U.S. long-term.
During these years, Nordegren spent much of her time at home.
Woods, interested in meeting her, reportedly did not approach her directly but instead asked a member of his team to inquire on his behalf. Nordegren later described the move as “weird and pathetic” and with a Swedish boyfriend in tow, she initially had no interest in dating Woods.
It took several months before she agreed to go on a date. Over time, their relationship developed, and they were married in 2004. Adjusting to the public nature of Wood’s fame was challenging for Nordegren, who described herself as a naturally shy and private person.
The attention that came with being the wife of a well-known athlete was something she had not anticipated. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Sam Alexis, in 2007, followed by their son Charlie Axel in 2009.
During these years, Nordegren spent much of her time at home with the children while also continuing her psychology studies–a field that combined her love of children with her initial academic goals.
However, what seemed like a stable family life shifted dramatically in late 2009, when Nordegren discovered some of her husband’s secrets.
He briefly locked himself in the bathroom before leaving the house.
The 2009 Incident That Triggered the Divorce
On Thanksgiving night in 2009, Nordegren discovered a series of phone calls on Woods’ mobile phone that raised her suspicions. After their family dinner, Woods took an Ambien sleeping pill and fell asleep. Nordegren checked his call log and noticed frequent communication with Rachel Uchitel, a Las Vegas hostess.
She reportedly called Uchitel directly and said, “I know everything.” Her search of the phone revealed more messages, including ones from a Los Angeles cocktail waitress named Jaimee Grubbs, whom she also contacted. Nordegren then woke Woods and confronted him.
He briefly locked himself in the bathroom before leaving the house and getting into his black Cadillac Escalade. Moments later, he crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree just 150 yards from their Florida home in Windermere. Nordegren, who had run after him, used a golf club to break the car’s window and pulled Woods from the wreckage.
The incident quickly attracted law enforcement and media attention. Windermere’s mayor, Gary Bruhn, described the scene in the following days:
“Two hundred paparazzi… Paparazzi hanging from the trees. They wanted to know what golf club Elin used [to break the Cadillac’s windows].”
Reports later confirmed that Woods was under the influence of Ambien and Vicodin at the time of the crash, but alcohol was not a factor. In the aftermath, Woods released a public statement announcing he would take an indefinite break from professional golf to focus on being “a better husband, father, and person.”
Following the crash, multiple women, including adult film actresses and escorts, came forward claiming to have had affairs with Woods. Nordegren later admitted that she had been unaware of her husband’s infidelity until the night of the crash. She said:
“I’m so embarrassed that I never suspected—not a one… For the last 3½ years, when all this was going on, I was home a lot more with pregnancies, then the children and my school.”
Nordegren dealt with the emotional toll through therapy, journaling, and maintaining a routine for her children. The stress also took a physical toll; she experienced insomnia, weight loss, and began to lose her hair, but the emotions always come later, as she explained:
“I never cry. Unfortunately. I wish I could bring up my emotions more at the time, but it usually comes afterward. That’s one of my flaws.”
In the months that followed, efforts were made to repair the marriage, but ultimately, the damage was too great to overcome.
The key issue for both parties was custody.
Divorce Settlement and Life After the Split
The marriage between Nordegren and Woods officially ended in August 2010. Both were present at Bay County Circuit Court in Panama City, Florida, where the divorce agreement was finalized. In a joint statement, the couple said:
“We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future. While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us.”
Though the specific details of the divorce settlement were not made public, reports at the time estimated Nordegren received approximately $100 million.
Sources indicated that the key issue for both parties was custody, and they ultimately agreed to share custody of their two children: Sam, then 3, and Charlie, who was 18 months old at the time.
Following the divorce, Nordegren remained in the Orlando area. She rented a five-bedroom home in Windermere, originally intended as a temporary residence while she and Woods attempted to repair their relationship.
Eventually, Nordegren decided that reconciliation was not possible, as she explained:
“We tried for months and months.”
In 2011, one year after the divorce, Nordegren purchased a $12.25 million mansion in North Palm Beach, Florida. The 1.4-acre oceanfront estate featured 11 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, a gym, wine cellar, movie theater, and a rooftop deck overlooking the Atlantic.
After living there for nearly a decade, she sold the property in September 2020 for $28.64 million, following multiple listing attempts that began in 2018 at $49.5 million.
Reflecting on the period following the divorce, a source close to Nordegren said:
“She’s feeling okay about all this. She’s been through hell but handled herself with such dignity. And now she’s got a whole new life ahead of her.”
Despite the personal and public challenges, Nordegren and Woods focused on co-parenting, working to maintain stability for their children in the years that followed.
Co-Parenting and Relationship Post-Divorce
Nordegren and Woods worked to establish a cooperative and respectful co-parenting relationship. By 2014, Nordegren shared that things between them had improved significantly.
“I have moved on and I am in a good place,” she 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.”
Sources close to the former couple confirmed in 2018 that they continued to maintain a positive dynamic focused on their children, Sam and Charlie:
“They’re friends now. Everything that happened in the past is in the past.”
Woods also spoke about their evolving relationship in a 2015 interview, noting that they had become close over time:
“She’s one of my best friends now. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time. We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids.”
Woods also took responsibility for past mistakes and explained that he had spoken openly with his children about the reasons behind the family’s living situation:
“The reason why we’re not in the same house, why we don’t live under the same roof, Mommy and Daddy, is because Daddy made some mistakes.”
With a stable co-parenting arrangement in place, Nordegren focused on personal growth, returning to the field of study she had once planned to pursue.
She decided to speak publicly once to clarify misconceptions.
Pursuing Education and Mental Health Work
Following her divorce, Nordegren chose to return to her original academic focus. She enrolled in psychology courses at Rollins College in Florida and, by May 2018, was scheduled to complete her master’s degree in psychology.
Her decision to continue her education aligned with the path she had intended to take before meeting Woods. Nordegren remained largely silent in the media after the divorce but she decided to speak publicly once to clarify misconceptions.
“My plan was to just stay the way I was,” she explained, referring to her preference for privacy. “For my kids, I felt that [remaining private] was the only normalcy I could give them, since they have a very famous dad.” However, due to widespread speculation, she said, “I felt like setting some things straight.”
She emphasized her shock upon learning about her husband’s actions:
“Absolute shock and disbelief. I felt stupid as more things were revealed — how could I not have known anything? The word betrayal isn’t strong enough.”
Nordegren’s emotional journey followed the clinical stages of grief — shock, bargaining, anger, depression — and was still working toward acceptance. She shared:
“I’ve been through hell. It’s hard to think you have this life, and then all of a sudden—was it a lie? You’re struggling because it wasn’t real. But I survived. It was hard, but it didn’t kill me.”
She remained committed to protecting her children’s privacy, declining to have them photographed for any media coverage.
Her focus remained on maintaining a stable environment for her family and completing her academic goals. As she advanced in her education and moved forward in life, Nordegren also entered a new relationship, building a larger family with her current partner.
A dream come true for Nordegren.
Life with Jordan Cameron and a Blended Family
In 2017, Elin began a relationship with Jordan Cameron, a former NFL tight end who played for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. That same year, Jordan retired from professional football after sustaining four concussions over six seasons.
At the time of their relationship’s beginning, Jordan had one son, Tristan, from a previous relationship. Together, Elin and Jordan now have three children: Arthur, Zeta, and Freya. Along with Elin’s two children with Tiger — Sam and Charlie — and Jordan’s son, the couple are raising a blended family of six children, a dream come true for Nordegren, as a friend said:
“Elin always wanted a big family and loved the idea of a house filled with kids. She has that now, living her sweetest dream.”
Now in her mid 40s, Elin works as a mental health counselor and continues to maintain a low public profile. She resides in Florida, where, according to sources, she leads a “normal, boring life,” largely focused on her family and career.
From a temporary job abroad to international headlines and a complete transformation of her personal life, Elin’s journey has taken unexpected turns — yet led her to a life of stability and purpose. Meanwhile, her ex-husband has moved on and recently made headlines for his rumored new relationship.
In February 2025, witnesses spotted them together at a golf tournament.
Reports Link Tiger to Familiar Face
Tiger is making headlines for his new romance with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. According to the Daily Mail on March 13, the 49-year-old golfer and Vanessa, 47, have been quietly dating since late last year.
Both live just 20 minutes apart in Palm Beach, Florida. Their children — Tiger’s, Charlie and Sam Woods, and Vanessa’s eldest daughter, Kai Trump — attend The Benjamin School, a private institution.
In February 2025, witnesses spotted them together at a golf tournament, fueling speculation. A source told Daily Mail,
“Tiger and Vanessa have been seeing each other since just before Thanksgiving. She comes to his place on Jupiter Island. They’re not living together. She comes over maybe a few nights a week.”
The source added that they enjoy each other’s company, often sharing dinners and conversation. For now, they are keeping things private and have chosen to stay out of the public eye.
Despite the attention surrounding their romance, Vanessa’s ex-husband isn’t bothered. A source close to the Trump family told People that Donald Jr. is “cool” with the pair dating. He and Vanessa were married for 12 years before divorcing in 2018.
Meanwhile, other Trump family members and the former couple’s five children reportedly know about Vanessa and Tiger’s relationship.
The New York Post reported that Woods and Vanessa’s relationship began as a friendship, while a source added:
“But it’s not too serious, it’s heading in that direction, though. They have a lot in common. They’ve both gotten used to public scrutiny. They both know how to keep their private life private. They’re both parents.”
What Woods admires most about Vanessa is that she isn’t drawn to his popularity. “Fame doesn’t interest her; that’s what he likes best about her,” the source explained, adding that she would date him even if he weren’t famous.
Before reports of their romance resurfaced, Vanessa was seen in the background of a photo taken on February 16, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California. The image showed Woods alongside Kai, during the final round of The Genesis Invitational, further fueling speculation about their growing connection.
Vanessa’s appearance at the event fueled dating rumors and sparked online discussions about her resemblance to Woods’ past partners. One commented, “Looks like his ex,” while other users pointed out that he clearly has a type, “You can tell he has a type. All of his girlfriends look alike.”
One observer noted Tiger’s preference for blondes. Someone joked that she seemed older and not as blonde as his usual type.
While some focused on her appearance, others reacted to the relationship itself. Another person found the situation unexpected and mentioned it wasn’t on their bingo card. A skeptic predicted it wouldn’t last, comparing Tiger’s dating history to going through water.
Not everyone was critical, though. A supporter expressed happiness for the couple and wished them well. Another echoed the same sentiment, “Good for them. Wish them much happiness.”
