The Biggest Rumors About Tiger Woods That Just Won’t Die

Throughout his career, Woods was frequently forced to take breaks from the competition circuit due to persistent and painful injuries, which necessitated surgeries and extensive physiotherapy. As he aged, Woods was confronted with the daunting task of contemplating his future career prospects, a decision made all the more difficult by his apparent reluctance to retire.

In addition, Woods’ continued standing in the golf world makes the prospect of walking away even less attractive. Sure, he’s far from being the world’s formidable and unbeatable number-one that he once was and, realistically, never will be again. However, Woods finished a respectable 18th in the December 2023 Hero World Challenge, resulting in him leaping 430 places in the world ranking, from 1,328 to 898. Still, as the athlete pushes 50, the main topic of conversation regarding Woods is whether it is time for him to retire gracefully. Other golfing greats carried on for considerably longer, though: Jack Nicklaus was 65, Arnold Palmer 77, and Gary Player 74 when they quit the pro circuit. But, in fairness, unlike Woods, they weren’t hounded by the paparazzi, subjected to salacious headlines, and besieged by continued rumors that just won’t die.

Tiger apparently agreed to a $350 million non-cheating prenup clause
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Tiger Woods had an estimated 120 affairs while married to Elin Nordegren. But she remained stoic — aside from an alleged incident with a golf club and smashed windows. Nordegren gave just two interviews following their split, both with People, and hasn’t publicly spoken since. Cynics claim Nordegren’s silence is because of an iron-clad NDA signed in return for her divorce payout, estimated to be in the region of $100 million. Others insist she’s simply a class act who wants to move on with her life.

“I have been through the stages of disbelief and shock, anger and ultimately grief over the loss of the family I so badly wanted for my children,” Nordegren told People in August 2010, vowing to live her life privately now. “I have moved on, and I am in a good place,” she said when speaking to the outlet in 2014.”Our relationship is centered around our children, and we are doing really good.”

Still, the rumors about Woods continued to affect Nordegren long after their divorce was finalized. Speculation rose its ugly head in 2013 when The National Enquirer (via Fox Sports) claimed Woods proposed to Nordegren over the 2012 holidays. Apparently, she was up for it on condition that a $350 million anti-cheating penalty was written into a prenup. The story is “farcical, bogus, absolutely fiction, false, and that she is spending her time being a lovely mom raising her lovely kids,” a family friend told The Chicago Sun-Times, according to Bleacher Report.

Tiger reportedly has a sex addiction
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The 120 affairs Tiger Woods is estimated to have had during his nearly six-year marriage to Elin Nordegren sparked rumors he has a sex addiction. Woods never admitted or denied the reports, but speculation increased when he reportedly entered a treatment facility in December 2009 for undisclosed reasons.

“For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I’m facing,” Woods revealed to reporters upon his release in February 2010, according to Reuters. “I have a long way to go. But I’ve taken my first steps in the right direction.” Woods confessed to engaging in “repeated irresponsible behavior” and admitted, “I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated.”

Later in the month, Woods issued a heartfelt apology to fans, friends, and family. “Everyone of you has good reason to be critical of me,” he said. “I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior.” In March 2010, Woods got candid in an interview with ESPN, admitting he had been “living a life of a lie.” As for the sheer number of women he cheated with, Woods replied, “Just one is enough. And obviously, that wasn’t the case.” Heartbreakingly, when asked why he’d married Nordegren in the first place, Woods admitted, “Because I loved her. I loved Elin with everything I had. And that’s something that makes me feel even worse.”