Tiger Woods and his former spouse, Elin Nordegren, put their past firmly behind them this weekend, presenting a united front to cheer on their 16-year-old son, Charlie Woods, at a prestigious junior golf tournament in Florida.
A Dramatic Near-Miss on the Course
The teenager was competing at the Junior Orange Bowl International Championship on the Biltmore Course in Miami, aiming to kickstart his 2026 season. However, his round took a frightening turn at the 11th hole. According to reports from GolfMagic, Charlie's recovery shot struck a hidden tree root, causing the ball to rocket back towards him at alarming speed.
The young golfer was forced to duck and cover his face as the ball whistled past, narrowly avoiding a serious injury. The incident prompted audible gasps from the watching crowd. Remarkably, Charlie managed to salvage the situation, still making par on the hole after the near-disaster.
"Hell of a shot," Tiger Woods was heard saying to his son as he walked off the green, praising his composure. Despite the scare, Charlie finished the round with a score of two-over par.
Co-Parenting in the Spotlight
The event was notable not just for the on-course drama, but for the sight of Woods, who turned 50 on 30 December, walking the fairways alongside Nordegren. The pair, who divorced in 2010 after a scandalous split, have worked diligently to rebuild a functional friendship for the sake of their two children, Charlie and daughter Sam, 17.
Their marriage, which began with a lavish wedding in 2004, imploded in 2009 when news of Woods's multiple infidelities became public. The scandal erupted after a car crash outside their Florida home in November 2009, which led to a series of women coming forward. Nordegren finalised the divorce in August 2010.
In the years since, they have forged a new bond as dedicated co-parents. "Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic. She’s one of my best friends," Woods told TIME magazine in 2015. "We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids."
Woods' Ongoing Comeback Trail
While supporting his son, Tiger Woods continues to battle his own physical challenges in a bid to return to professional golf. He suffered a torn Achilles in March 2025 and underwent another back procedure in October of last year.
Speaking at the Hero World Challenge in December, which he hosts, Woods admitted, "It’s been a tough year," adding that his recovery was "not as fast as I'd like it to be." The golf legend is now in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, the former daughter-in-law of Donald Trump.
The weekend in Miami ultimately highlighted a story of family unity and resilience, overshadowing the golf scores with a demonstration of successful co-parenting and a young athlete's ability to handle pressure—both from the game and from the intense spotlight his famous name brings.
