In a very rare comment on his personal life, Tiger Woods responded publicly to a recent rumor about himself and girlfriend Kristin Smith.
In doing so, he stated that they are no longer together.
According to several reports, Tiger was dating Kristin Smith, a personal stylist and former wife of Dallas Cowboys player Gerald Sensabaugh.
Just this week, the UK’s Daily Mail reported that the secretive couple took a vacation together in the Bahamas at the end of July.
The publication claimed that the two were spotted enjoying some snorkeling and boating in his private yacht in the Caribbean.
That’s what Tiger spoke out to deny, and then some.
“Contrary to the false Daily Mail article, Kristin Smith and I are no longer dating and haven’t since last year,” he wrote on Twitter.
Though Woods was indeed spending time at sea in Albany (the Bahamas’ Albany, not the Upstate N.Y. version), Smith was not.
Woods vacationing with his children, he clarified.
He took to Instagram to share a photo of himself from the trip, writing, “Nothing like free diving with the kids for lobster at Albany.”
Tiger Woods and Kristin Smith were first linked last year, and it’s not clear when they broke up or why. Nor will it ever be clear.
This is Tiger, after all. Personal life revelations from him are even rarer than appearances on the golf course these days.
Speaking of which, it’s been a rough year for him.
Woods has been sidelined from pro golf since 2015 with injuries, and was arrested for driving under the influence in Florida this May.
Tiger got popped for DUI after officers observed his car on the side of the road with two flat tires. He was confused as to where he was.
Yesterday, we learned that he will likely enter a first-time DUI offender program as punishment for the arrest, and to clear his record.
This will include DUI school, victim impact panels, and 12 months of probation, which incorporates a ban on alcohol and drug possession.
He has also completed a treatment program following the incident, which signaled an ongoing problem with prescription drug abuse.
Woods said earlier this summer:
“I’m currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder.”
“I want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of support and understanding especially the fans and players on tour.”
Before his reported relationship with Smith, Woods dated Olympic skiing great Lindsey Vonn for three years from 2012-2015.
Prior to that, of course, the golf legend was married to Elin Nordegren. The couple married in 2004 and divorced in 2010.
Following a car crash in November 2009, Woods’ dirty laundry (many, many affairs) was aired for the entire world to see.
They have two children together, Sam Alexis Woods and Charlie Axel Woods, and have been amicably co-parenting since.
Tiger’s golf career has never been quite the same; Woods’ 14th and last major championship came at the 2008 U.S. Open.
After an impressive comeback from that scandal – he was #1 in the world as recently as 2013 – he was derailed by injuries.
