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NEW YORK - The media scrutiny into Tiger Woods' private life, which the golf superstar lambasted in his public apology on Friday, shows no sign of abating.
As he headed back to treatment for sex addiction the day after, the Daily News in New York reported that his wife Elin was seen shopping with their two-year-old daughter Sam at a Florida shopping mall.
The Swedish ex-model was wearing sunglasses, jeans and boots when she headed to the mall in Windermere, the town where Woods' troubles began last November. She did not speak to reporters.
She later met friends for lunch, according to US gossip site RadarOnline.com, which also reported that the couple played tennis for an hour on Saturday afternoon before they boarded a private plane under heavy security and flew out of Orlando.
It said the developments may indicate a thaw in the couple's relationship. The couple reportedly also met Friday at their home after Woods' televised apology.
British tabloid The Daily Mirror, however, reported that Elin was stunned when the golfer made major last-minute changes to his statement, despite agreeing what he would say.
It said she had been expecting him to announce a return to the golf course within weeks, but after last-minute discussions with his advisers, he instead decided to say he was returning to therapy to seek further help.
She reportedly felt "hurt and manipulated", fearing the U-turn was aimed at placating his sponsors.
In a commentary published in The Observer, the former wife of British golfer Nick Faldo - who was also involved in extramarital affairs - has commiserated with Elin, saying "monogamy and professional golf do not happily co-exist".
Ms Melanie Hickey, who now works as a PR consultant, recalled how she felt "the weight of the corporate machine" bearing down on her as "it moved into the most personal of spaces of (her) life to protect its charge" when her own marriage broke down.
Meanwhile, Woods' long-time caddie Steve Williams said he won't tolerate any heckling from the public galleries when the world number one makes his eventual return to golf.
New Zealander Williams, 46, who has been carrying Woods' golf bag in tournaments since 1999, has a gruff reputation for not tolerating heckling or loutish behaviour in the public galleries when Woods is in action.
"When I go back to work with Tiger Woods, nothing will change," he told The Sun-Herald. "My job is to give him the best information I can and get him around in the fewest possible strokes.
"And as I have always pointed out, it is to try and give him a level playing field. Nothing will change from that aspect. I won't do anything differently."
In his statement on Friday, Woods said he was not sure when he would return to competitive golf.
Former British Open champion Ian Baker-Finch, now a television commentator, said he fears that the player will not play golf again this year.
"I was hoping he'd be back for the Masters, but I read into (his statement) that his comeback's not going to be any time soon," Baker-Finch said.
"My gut feeling is he doesn't come back until he's 100 per cent better, focused on golf and ready to win, and I don't think it will be for the Majors. I can't see any reason to come back (this year) if not for the Majors." Agencies
From TODAY, Monday, 22-Feb-2010
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