Sources close to Tiger’s wife say she’s decided to file for a divorce
A source close to Tiger Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren, says that “divorce is 100 percent on,” according to ABC News on Wednesday. Meanwhile, friends of Woods have become increasingly concerned about his mental state after three weeks in recluse following his SUV accident in his neighborhood Thanksgiving night, which suddenly made his private life public.
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News of the divorce lends credence to a previous People Magazine report, quoting two unnamed sources close to Nordegren, one saying, “She’s made up her mind. There’s nothing to think about. He’s never going to change.”
In the last three weeks, various press reports have alleged that Woods has engaged in several extra-marital affairs during his five-year marriage, including two with actresses in porn films. On his Web site last Friday, Woods admitted to “infidelity” and asked “forgiveness,” while acknowledging, “It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.”
The latest reports indicate that Woods may not get that chance. Thursday of last week, movers were observed carrying large items out of the couple’s home in Windermere, Fla., according to the New York Post. Moving vans again were seen at the home on Tuesday. Last week, it was reported that, before the scandal broke, Nordegren had purchased a six-bedroom, $2.2 million home on a small island near Stockholm, in her native Sweden.
Woods now faces the prospect of a complicated divorce, with enormous financial stakes, as well as life without Nordegren and the couple’s children, daughter Sam, 2, and son Charlie, 10 months.
According MSNBC’s The Scoop, a source close to Nordegren plans to make the split “very open and official right after Christmas.” The Mirror reports a source close to Nordegren saying that she will file in California, where the couple owns a second home, and where she would increase her chances of receiving an even split of the couple’s property.
The New York Daily News reports that Nordegren will spend the holidays with her children in Sweden, although not in the new home.
The newspaper also quoted a friend of Woods saying the golf great was, “very contrite, but also disoriented. He still can’t believe this is happening.” Woods, according to the source, has been spending time with a close circle of confidants, most of them college friends from Stanford. According to another Woods’ friend, former basketball great Charles Barkley, Woods changed his cell phone number the day after the SUV accident.
Could a lengthy court procedure stall Woods’ career? Included in his Web site announcement on Friday, was Woods’ decision to take “an indefinite break from professional golf.” Woods, who turns 34 on Dec. 30, has won 14 major championships in his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.
Further clouding Woods’ return is a report this week that he was treated by Toronto doctor, Anthony Galea, who faces drug charges in Canada after an assistant of Galea was stopped at the U.S.-Canada border with Human growth hormone.
“There’s a lot of doctors linked to HGH,” PGA Tour Commissioner Finchem said during a media blitz Thursday. “There’s no reason for me to be concerned because I have no information to trigger a concern.”
Finchem did say that the Woods scandal was the biggest “curveball” he’s faced in his 15-year tenure, but dismissed “gloom and doom” for the tour.
“I don’t want to sugarcoat it. It’s tough to have your No. 1 guy out,” said Finchem. “But we don’t have to worry about that right now. We’re going to have a good year. Our hope is that he can work through these issues, come back, and play the game of golf.”
