Tiger Woods Tells Ex-Wife About New Relationship with Vanessa Trump

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Tiger Woods reportedly informed his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, about his new relationship with Vanessa Trump during a phone conversation in late December or early January. The exchange was described as “awkward” but ultimately “civil,” according to an insider.

“It was a pleasant, almost friendly conversation,” the source told Page Six. “Her response at first was like, ‘Seriously? A Trump? For real?’” The source added that Nordegren, 45, was “more amused than anything,” quickly processing the information without much emotional reaction.

Woods, 49, has kept Nordegren in the loop about his past relationships since their divorce in 2010, which followed his highly publicized infidelity scandals. The insider noted that while Nordegren was surprised by the identity of Woods’ new girlfriend, she was not shocked that he was dating again.

“They’re not the type to give each other their ‘blessing’ per se, but they keep each other informed, especially about anyone who will be around their children,” the insider explained. The former couple shares two children, 17-year-old Sam and 16-year-old Charlie.

Importantly, the source indicated that both children are reportedly fond of Trump, 47, eliminating any potential for drama regarding the relationship. The families have crossed paths frequently at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach, where both Woods’ children and Trump’s daughter, Kai, are enrolled. The school encourages parental involvement, making their encounters common.

<p"It's a tight-knit community where they see each other often," said the insider. "Elin also knew exactly who Vanessa was prior to the call."

The reason for Woods’ proactive call to his ex-wife was driven by a desire to share the news personally before it potentially appeared in the media. “Tiger knew it was going to get out eventually, so he had to make the phone call to Elin before his love life ended up in the newspapers again,” the source stated.

Earlier this month, Page Six confirmed Woods and Trump had begun dating after developing a friendship that evolved into a romantic relationship around Thanksgiving.

Woods and Nordegren were married in 2004 but finalized their divorce six years later amid a series of cheating scandals. Nordegren has publicly shared her struggles during their marriage, revealing how the revelation of Woods’ infidelity made her feel like her life had “fallen apart.” Over the years, the pair have maintained a strong co-parenting relationship, with Woods recently describing Nordegren as “one of my best friends.”

Despite ongoing media scrutiny surrounding Woods, he has shown resilience in both his personal and professional life. Currently, he is recovering from surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon, which he sustained while preparing to return to competitive golf. “I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured,” Woods explained in a recent statement about his recovery.

His mentor, Fred Couples, noted Woods’ positive outlook despite the setback. “He’s in great spirits for a ruptured Achilles,” Couples commented, reflecting the golf community’s concern and support.