Tiger Woods: A fallen star, and officially a failure at marriage
I once asked Tiger Woods to describe, in 25 words or less, what it was like being Tiger Woods. Being Tiger Woods, he finished 24-under.
“Sweet,” he said.
That was in October 2003. It happened after Tiger’s first round at the WGC-American Express Championship in Woodstock. There weren’t many folks there that Thursday, and essentially everybody on hand was following Tiger. (Department of weird coincidences: One of those in Tiger’s gallery was Damon Evans, who would become Georgia’s athletics director the next year.)
Tiger Woods would become engaged to Elin Nordegren the next month. They would marry in 2004 in Barbados, with the guests including Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and Bill Gates. Tiger and Elin would have two children. Life seemed … well, sweet.
As of today, Tiger and Elin are no longer man and wife. Not nine months after he ran into a fire hydrant backing out of his driveway on the morning after Thanksgiving, the divorce has been finalized. And if you’re chuckling and saying, “Tiger’s free to chase women and not be labeled a cheetah” … ask yourself this: Do you think even Tiger Woods would today describe his life as “sweet”?
He has lost a wife. He will surely be rendered an absentee father. Once the idol of millions, he’s now a fallen star — indeed, maybe the biggest fallen star in the history of sports. He has not won a tournament this calendar year, and there were years when Tiger would claim a half-dozen trophies. (Indeed, he won that modest event in Woodstock.)
He’ll surely win again, but we will never again regard him the same way. He has gone from being unbeatable to being the butt of jokes and now, as of this Monday in August 2010, he’s legally just another failed husband.
Even if this damage was all self-inflicted, the temptation is nonetheless to feel a bit sorry for him. Because none of us will ever know how it is to Have It All. And none of us, thank goodness, will ever know how it is to throw so much away.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
243 comments Add your comment
BugKiller
August 23rd, 2010
6:31 pm
Golfers, more than ANY other athletes, are creatures of extreme habit.
Let’s be honest for a moment and admit that part of Tiger’s habits were to go out after a round to get drinks with his posse and pick up more than the check, if you know what I mean.
He should have divorced his wife from the get go, and not only for his career, but for his family. It was bound to happen, trying to hold on to what you ruined is never healthy.
He made a HUGE mistake getting married young. Derek Jeter has been playing the field, literally and figuratively, for 15 years now. He’s closer to 40 than 20. He’s not married. Because he knows the temptations are too much for ANY man.
The other guys who Tiger hangs with who got married young (like Jordan, for example) have ALL cheated on their wives.
Before anyone else throws any stones, there’s a certain beloved third baseman in this town who had daliance(s) of his own, albeit with a higher(?) class of waitress.
Tiger Woods was a complete dork his whole life. Doesn’t anyone remember this guy as a 20 year old Stanford student? Total nerd.
Why he married so young and never played the field, like Jeter did, is the real shame. He wasn’t ready. He was young, dumb, and should have been free to do all the things (women) he never got a chance to as a high school and college dork.
So his mistake here? Getting married in the first place.
But now that he’s divorced, he can get back to his routine without the sneaking or guilt. I’m sure he’s at a Perkins right now.
Next year Tiger is going to win no less than three majors. Guaranteed.
A2
August 23rd, 2010
6:34 pm
Wow. Those in glass homes should not cast stones. Dude was very wrong and is paying the just consequence. However, nobody is perfect. Mark, you should check with Jay Mariotti, Marv Albert, Jim Lampley and countless others before you cast the next stone.
Lane Jones
August 23rd, 2010
6:34 pm
Just because he gets a divorce he is a dead beat dad absentee father????? Does getting a divorce make one an “absentee father”?
will c
August 23rd, 2010
6:35 pm
Hey Mark, you are just jealous because no one except your wife wants to sleep with you. If you had the money and opportunity to sleep with beautiful around the world, you would probably fall to the same temptation as TIGER…
Hey TIGER, stop apologizing. Go to Vegas and bang some chicks so you can get your swing back.
destin dawg
August 23rd, 2010
6:37 pm
What a role model,,, cussing in front of the fans ( KIds)… spoiled brat… only child ..won’t sign autographs.. when he plays a practice round with one of the top golfers ( Mickelson, etc.).. he has to wait on the next tee because his playing partner is signing autographs, caps. etc. for the fans… ROLE MODEL
Bob Horner
August 23rd, 2010
6:40 pm
will c…you’d be a good drinking buddy…you made me LOL…
doc
August 23rd, 2010
6:42 pm
the list is long of this type of behavior to get too self righteous about it. entitled folks have done it for years. prince charles, jfk, mlk, clinton, the list is huge. move on and let them figure it out. it is sad and there is another chapter to be written and is the one of importance. i can only pray it is one that has a better outcome for all.
sad to say but before the stuff hit the fan some would have even said he had the perfect marriage. that to is where we all exist betwixt and between.
Bob Horner
August 23rd, 2010
6:43 pm
Lane…she’s taking the kids to Sweden…(my x lives in Canton and I live in Douglasville…and I bich about THAT commute…) just sayin….
DonnieM
August 23rd, 2010
6:47 pm
Zero sympathy for the arrogant jerk.
Concerned Citizen
August 23rd, 2010
6:50 pm
Hey MARK,
This is off the subject, but
please tell the AJC’s Doug Roberson that Todd McShay of ESPN and the NFL are two separate entities.
This is in reference to his headline,
NFL not high on Tech’s Nesbitt
destin dawg
August 23rd, 2010
6:50 pm
Doc.. none of them as bad as Tiger… others only had ONE at a time and that was before so much STD”s.. but its still the cussing/temper in front of fans (kids)… screwed Fuzzy… no autographs etc….
david
August 23rd, 2010
6:51 pm
I’d bet anything that he thought she’d be honored to be his wife. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a bigger ego.
crackills
August 23rd, 2010
7:06 pm
I’m disappointed in Eldrick for getting caught.
JDW
August 23rd, 2010
7:10 pm
As someone that met Tiger for the first time in 93…he has not changed! But I will say he did a great job of fooling everyone for awhile. It has, is and will always be just about Tiger in his mind.
Mojo
August 23rd, 2010
7:12 pm
You go Tiger. Celebrate! This time, don’t marry any of it. Why pay for the cow when you can definitely get the milk for free!?
Rick
August 23rd, 2010
7:19 pm
Tiger will never win another tournment. He is done. Stick a fork in him.
Rick
August 23rd, 2010
7:22 pm
Now, I can’t get any sleep. I am disappointed that he did not have the intelligence to get away with it. How can you win a that much money and be that stupid.
dagnabit
August 23rd, 2010
7:22 pm
Mark is doing just fine. Tiger has gone by-the-way.
Rick
August 23rd, 2010
7:23 pm
Elin should have called and spoken with Ms. Bobbit.
Rick
August 23rd, 2010
7:23 pm
I’ll bet he did not sleep in that house the night she whacked his ass.
Rick
August 23rd, 2010
7:26 pm
Someone talk to me, I am bored.
Andrew Treble
August 23rd, 2010
7:33 pm
Who really cares about how many women he slept with, how he became a “failed husband”, or how much money she got? I know I could care less. Our society, through the 24-hour news cycle media exalts these atheletes and movie actors too much, then you excoriate them when they behave like mere humans. I have my own concerns about family and work where I cannot spend much time thinking about Tiger and his ex-wife.
SuperiorIntellect
August 23rd, 2010
7:35 pm
Au contraire, many of us have it all, and appreciate it and value it enough not to endanger it. (I’m talking about family, what are you talking about?) Your last sentence speaks volumes about your shallowness.
Alan
August 23rd, 2010
7:37 pm
I once asked Tiger Woods to describe, in 25 words or less, what it was like being Tiger Woods. Being Tiger Woods, he finished 24-under.
Mark,
Simply put, that’s one of the best ledes I’ve read in years.
dawg4u
August 23rd, 2010
7:37 pm
I have to agree with Dr. Warren that O.J. Simpson has the title of the star who has fallen the most plus he is in prison still for his last crime of stealing his own memorabilia back with a gun. I would much rather be in Tiger’s shoes than O.J.’s.
ron
August 23rd, 2010
7:41 pm
is erin a failed wife?
Joe
August 23rd, 2010
7:42 pm
And after this weeks event, he’s likely done for the year. No east lake. No Fed ex. No ryder cup. Enjoy the long off season and see you next year tiger.
flacker
August 23rd, 2010
7:42 pm
Two words Mark
Jay Mariotti
I don’t know Tiger and have empathy for him and his kids and Elin. I am amazed at how people take glee in the failures or shortcoming of others. I wonder how many people get up and go to church or synagogue or other places of worship and say how much they love Christ and as soon as they get home, the hate and vitriol begins. I love to see the man play golf, no more no less and i wish him well.
Sam
August 23rd, 2010
7:43 pm
It’s eLin ron and no. She didn’t lie and cheat retard.
Damon Evans
August 23rd, 2010
7:52 pm
wtf did you remove my comment for?
y’all need to get off his magic stick. the man is gifted and generous unlike ellen.
if you think beautiful women want to hangout with sportswriters I think you are seriously mistaken.
you can put that in ink.
Bob Horner @ flacker
August 23rd, 2010
7:53 pm
good post….I’m afraid of you….
GaAubie
August 23rd, 2010
7:55 pm
Tiger is toast, he has feet of clay and the other players don’t fear him any longer plus there are now better younger players on the tour. I am just a old Auburn guy but I have been married for 47 years. I am not perfect nor is my wife but I can tell you that you got to meet in the middle on everything. Tiger will never be the new Jack N or Arnold P
Bob Horner @ damon
August 23rd, 2010
7:58 pm
comments are removed too easily……(the AJC is a liberal entity…) that’s how I live w/ it…
Tiger Woods
August 23rd, 2010
7:58 pm
Drinks and table dances on me tonight at the Cheetah!!! Sex tape and a return to celebrity status to follow
bob
August 23rd, 2010
8:01 pm
Hi jacking those poor American children to Europe. Sounds like Elian Gonzales to me. Where is Janet Reno’s swat team?
Damon Evans
August 23rd, 2010
8:03 pm
now that it is common knowledge that tiger is divorced this dude is going to be getting more tail than before.
Mojo
August 23rd, 2010
8:06 pm
Tiger’s gonna come back stronger than ever soon! You watch. All the guys on here whining about his infidelity and having soooo many girlfriends; I’d bet most of them followed Tiger around the course like puppy dogs the last 10 years. Look. He messed up for sure, but ya gotta give this guy credit for his work ethic on the golf course. There has been no one like him that I ever remember and I’m 50. He needs his old routine back, kinda like the guy with the long hair. His just happen to be pubic. Let it go. Let him play. The girls will love him; he’ll “recover” and golf will be exciting again!
Gordon
August 23rd, 2010
8:21 pm
Mark, remember what happened to Tom McCollister when he said Nicklaus was washed up just before the ‘86 Masters? Tiger will win at least 20 professional majors (14 now), maybe as many as 24. He will win close to 100 PGA events (71 now). He will recover mentally, and that immense talent will carry him well into his forties (he turns 35 at the end of the year).
Do most people think about Kobe Bryant as anything other than a great basketball player at this point? Time passes, and all is forgiven. That doesn’t mean it was right, and he’ll never be admired in the way Jack Nicklaus, but he will be forgiven.
Kevin
August 23rd, 2010
8:31 pm
For those of you who may not know or selectively choose to omit JFK, Clinton ( not that they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath) Sinatra, Mantle, Ruth, Nicklaus and yes Arnie were legendary hounds. Guess what folks in today’s day and age you can’t sneeze without a camera phone catching you with snot on your shirt. Back in he day morals supposedly counted for more but the writers in the know kept things quiet according to the ‘gentleman’s code’ – so don’t judge as you nor I have, ever seen that ‘caliber’ of temptation not to mention begin to understand the dynamics of their individual relationships. I don’t condone it but please.. we’ll never know what it is like to have that lifestyle.
Mark "Crimson Crier" Ingram
August 23rd, 2010
8:52 pm
“Slick Willie” Clinton survived and even got to keep his (ROFLMAO) wife!
His god
August 23rd, 2010
8:53 pm
Sadly, his god is a golden fat boy statue budda…that is what is most sad about thie “intelligent” individual. However, his failures would be any of ours if we had his fame, money and power. I know of no one with his kind of success who has not have multiple moral failures. I would hope he can find genuine grace and get things turned around.
Bravesfan79
August 23rd, 2010
9:01 pm
Never did like Tiger… hope he never wins a tourney again. Its not his race, its his attitude.
I'm Still Rich, Beeeeeeeeeeeatch!
August 23rd, 2010
9:13 pm
Let’s see, even after all of this and paying Elin. He is rich, single, and the number 1 golfer in the world. I don’t feel sorry for him, I feel envious.
Tiger isn’t the only golfer to have cheated, see Arnold Palmer and Fred Couples, he just needed to step his game up. Playa, he is not. Shouldn’t have ever got married to feed some fantasy.
mykhalc
August 23rd, 2010
9:14 pm
stupid column that served no purpose except….???
bj
August 23rd, 2010
9:18 pm
U all r just mad b cause a black man played all of those white women. I’m still a big fan. Way 2 go “T”.
Chuck
August 23rd, 2010
9:18 pm
“Even if this damage was all self-inflicted, the temptation is nonetheless to feel a bit sorry for him.”
IF? IF??? He did it willfully, gladly, repeatedly and without regard for the consequences. If feel absolutely no pity for the spoiled, self-centered cur.
mykhalc
August 23rd, 2010
9:20 pm
@his god…ssshhhhh…you show your ignorance about Buddhism.
His children need a real dad
August 23rd, 2010
9:32 pm
Tiger’s an exceptional golfer. Unfortunately for his children and Elin, golf and empty relationships were his priorities. Any parent who spends as much time as Tiger did in the pursuit of all those women, is NOT a real dad. He was never really a husband either–not faithful from the beginning.
Sorry for his kids
August 23rd, 2010
9:58 pm
Gator32301, don’t know your definition of being absent, but Tiger IS an absentee father.
Realist
August 23rd, 2010
10:09 pm
Don’t think of it as Tiger being a failure at marriage.
Accept it that Elin is a VERY successful ex.
She knew as well as he knew that he should NEVER have married.