The festive period is a time for families to celebrate and connect with loved ones. A hug between Tiger Woods and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren at the PNC Championship in Florida showed that, despite their rancorous split 15 years ago, they still put family first.
Woods and his talented 15-year-old son Charlie came agonizingly close to winning the competition for the first time at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, but had to settle for second place.
The duo lost in a playoff to Bernhard Langer and his son Jason, with the golf great agonizingly missing out on a tournament win as he returned to action after a sixth back surgery earlier this year.
As both Woods and his son walked away from the final hole, they were greeted by a smiling Nordegran, who had been on the sidelines in the 36-hole scramble event, cheering them both on.
The golf legend and his former love rarely see each other in public, so hugging in front of the world showed just how far the couple have come in the years since their ugly split.
However, while many may be surprised to see Woods and Nordegran so close, their relationship has been mended over many years for the sake of their children.
Tiger Woods and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren were seen sharing a warm hug on Sunday.
Woods and Nordegren were married for six years before a messy divorce occurred in 2010.
Woods and his son Charlie placed second at the PNC Championship in Florida over the weekend.
Woods and Nordegren divorced in 2010 after six years of marriage, months after a cheating bombshell that caused their relationship to crumble in the public eye.
In November 2009, the Swedish model, now 48, discovered that Woods was cheating on her during Thanksgiving week.
News of Woods’ infidelity was first reported by a National Enquirer which claimed he was having an affair with a woman named Rachel Uchitel. Two days later, a car accident in front of his own mansion in Florida would reveal the truth.
After the accident, police found Woods asleep on the road, without shoes or socks, after Nordegren tried to break into the car with a golf club.
Elin’s worst fears were confirmed after she saw a text message on Woods’ phone as he lay unconscious, high on sleeping pills. What followed was one of the most dramatic collapses of a star’s reputation in all of sport.
Not only did it cost Woods his marriage, he also lost numerous lucrative endorsement deals, even though Nike supported him, and went to rehab for sex addiction during a break from playing golf.
However, even after such an unpleasant split, the former couple has still found a way to work together as friends for the sake of their two children, Charlie and Sam.
“Tiger and Elin have made it a high priority to protect their children’s interests and their privacy,” Notah Begay III told Golf.com.
Golf legend’s infamous cheating scandal ended his marriage to Nordegren
Woods and Nordegren are now teaming up to support their children and were seen celebrating Charlie’s golf success in March (pictured).
Nordegren stayed on the sidelines supporting her ex-husband and son in the PNC Championship.
“I talked about Tiger being at all those football games and youth activities; well, Elin is there and right next to them.”
Charlie’s talents on the golf course have certainly helped Woods and Nordegran reconcile, and the two supported their son in his dreams of following in his father’s footsteps.
The former couple was spotted together in March of this year while celebrating their son Charlie winning a state high school golf championship; However, the photos seem to suggest that they still kept their distance.
However, with Christmas quickly approaching, they showed how close they have become with a warm hug at a special family occasion in Florida.
Nordegran revealed to PEOPLE her emotions following her split with Woods, but now sources close to the model have told the same magazine how strong their relationship has become.
“Everything that happened in the past is in the past,” sources said. ‘They both decided to be adults and do what was best for the children. So they get along very well.
‘Tiger says really wonderful things about Elin. He never complains about her, ever. The children adore them both.’