Tiger Woods contacted Donald Trump after finding his new partner earlier this year. Woods, who turned 50 on Tuesday, announced his relationship with Vanessa Trump, the US President’s former daughter-in-law, in March.
It has been a challenging year for the golfing icon in a sporting sense, having ruptured his Achilles tendon just several months after undergoing back surgery. The 15-time major winner has not played a PGA event since the Open in 2024. Away from the golf course, Woods has found love with new partner Vanessa, who divorced Donald Trump Jr. in 2018. However, he did reach out to the President about his new romance, with Trump making his feelings about the relationship clear during a White House press conference.
“Well, I love Tiger and I love Vanessa and they had a great relationship,” Trump said in March. “Tiger actually called me a few months ago and he, you know, I have a very special, very good relationship with Tiger, I played golf with him a couple of times over the last month, and he’s a fantastic guy and a fantastic athlete.
“He told me about it, and I said Tiger, that’s good, that’s good. I’m very happy for both. I just—let them both be happy.”
While Trump endorsed Woods’ relationship with Vanessa, the mother of five of his grandchildren, the President also blamed his son’s divorce on external factors. During his father’s 2016 election campaign, Trump Jr met with a Russian woman who had promised information on Hillary Clinton, though he was ultimately not charged with any offence.
“I happen to think the relationship with my son, I happen to think their relationship was hurt very badly by the witch hunt that went on: Russia, Russia, Russia and all the c*** they put Don through, who knew nothing about it,” Trump added.
“But Vanessa and Don had a very good relationship, they have incredible children, five incredible children. All good athletes, all great students, they’re like, great. And they broke up, you know, quite a while ago, which to me was very sad because I think they’re both great.”
Vanessa and Donald Jr’s eldest child Kai is a promising golfer. The 16-year-old, who attends the same school as Tiger’s children, will hope that her mother’s new partner can help improve her golf game.
In March, Woods shared pictures with Vanessa as the couple made their relationship public. He wrote: “Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time, we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts.”
