OnNovember27, asthestorygainedtraction, mediaoutletsannouncedthatWoodshad colidedintoafirehydrantoutsidehishomeat 2:30inthemorning. ReportssaidthatWoods ' s wifehadbrokenthebackwindowofthegolfer ' s SUVwithagolfclubinordertogethim outof thelockedcar. Thegolfer ' sinjurieswerenot serious, andhewasquicklyreleased.
Theaccidentarousedsuspicionswithfansand themedia, whoinstantlypushedfora statementfrom Woods. Butthegolferremained silentonthemater, andmysteriouslydropped outofhischaritygolftournament, theChevron WorldChalenge. Hethenannouncedthathe wouldnotbeatendinganyothertournaments in2009.
Asthesilencegrew, sodidreportsofother Woodsmistresses. OnDecember2,2009, Woodsoferedanapologytohisfansand family, expressingregretforunnamed " transgressions." Butasthemistresscount rosetomorethanadozenwomen, withphone evidencetobackmanyclaims, Woodswas unabletosuppressmediainquiriesintohislife. Woodswassaidtohaveoferedhiswifea renegotiationoftheirprenuptialagreementin ordertocompelhertostickbyhim, butreports soonsurfacedthatNordgrenhadpurchaseda homeinSwedenwithhersister. Photographers thenspotedtheformermodelwithouther weddingring.
OnDecember11,2009, Woodsapologized againtofans— thistime, admitingtoinfidelity. Hethenannouncedthathewouldbetakinga hiatusfrom golfinordertotendtohisfamily. Severaldayslater, helosthisendorsement dealwiththemanagementcompanyAccenture, andwassuspendedfrom hisGilete endorsement. Othercompanies, includingNike, TagHeuerandEASports, continuedtostand byWoods.
WoodsmadeareturntogolfinAprilof2010, butthegolferwasnotquiteatthetopofhis game. Hisfirstcompetitionatthe2010Masters TournamentinAugusta, Georgia, resultedina fourthplacefinish. OnMay9, aftermissingthe cutfortheQuailHolowChampionship, Woods withdrewfrom thePlayersChampionship duringthefourthroundduetoaneckinjury. Woodsmadehisreturntogolffourweekslater attheMemorialTournament, butdeliveredhis worstperformanceinthetournamentsince 2002. Atthe2010U. S. Open, Woodsfinished inatieforfourthplace.
Woods ' spersonallifealsoseemedtobetaking aturnfortheworse, asnewsofapossible divorcesetlementhitmediaoutlets. The rumored $ 750milionsetlementalegedly includedpropertiesinSweden, andthefamily homeinCaliforniaforNordegren, inexchange forhiswife ' spermanentsilenceonWoods ' s philandering. ReportsalsosaidNordegren retainedfulphysicalcustodyoftheir3-year-old daughterand1-year-oldson, andWoods agreednottointroducehischildrentoanew womanunlesshemariedher.
Afteryearsofturmoil, Woodsfinalygothisgolf gameclickingagainin2012. HewontheArnold PalmerInvitationalinMarchforhisfirstPGA Tourvictorysince2009. Thatsummer, he toppedthefieldattheAT & TNationaltosurpass NicklauswithcareervictoryNo. 74, leavinghim eightbehindtherecordof82heldbySam Snead.
InMarch2013, the37-year-oldWoods confirmedtomediaoutletsthathewasdating 28-year-oldLindseyVonn, aprofessionalalpine skiracerfrom Minnesotaandfour-timeWorld Cupwinner. Vonnwaspreviouslymariedto ThomasVonn, aformerskiracer; thecouple separatedin2011, afterfouryearsofmariage, andoficialydivorcedinJanuary2012.
The2013seasonwasatriumphantonefor Woods. Hewonfivetournaments, includingthe ArnoldPalmerInvitational, theFarmers InsuranceOpenandthePlayers