Tiger Woods Put Elin Nordegren 'Through Hell'

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 25th 2010 09:29AM

Tiger Woods' cheated wife, Elin Nordegren, is finally having her say, telling PEOPLE she was "blindsided" and "embarrassed" by the philandering golfer's many mistresses.

"I've been through hell," Nordegren says in the cover story, adding she hoped to salvage her marriage even after the affairs came to light. The damage proved irreparable; her divorce was finalized Monday. "Initially, I thought we had a chance, and we tried really hard. I felt stupid as more things were revealed -- how could I not have known anything? The word 'betrayal' isn't strong enough."

Elin says she's been through stages of disbelief, shock, anger and "ultimately grief over the loss of the family I so badly wanted for my children. I am now going to do my very best to show them that alone and happy is better than being in a relationship where there is no trust."

After the jump, more excerpts from PEOPLE's in-depth interview with the former Mrs. Tiger Woods.

Nordegren, 30, remains classy and forgiving when discussing Woods, 34. "I wish him all the best in the future, as a person and as an athlete," she says. "I know he is going to go down as the best golfer that ever lived, and rightfully so. I feel privileged to have witnessed a part of his golfing career."

ABC reports the PEOPLE interview was conducted over 19 hours in a rented home in Florida, with Elin, who was born in Sweden, writing some of her answers to ensure her English depicted her feelings completely accurately.

"I never suspected, not a one," Elin says of Tiger's many affairs, which included porn stars and Rachel Uchitel. "For the last three-and-a-half years, when all this was going on, I was home a lot more with pregnancies, then the children and my school."

Nordegren was rumored to receive three-fourths of Woods' estimated $1 billion fortune. Sources now tell PopEater's Rob Shuter her settlement is closer to $100 million. "Money can't buy happiness," Elin says, "or put my family back together." She says this interview is the last she'll speak on the matter.

"She's still in a bad place, but getting better," PEOPLE deputy managing editor Peter Castro told 'Good Morning America.' "This is a woman with incredible grace and poise and really a model for how you should repair your life."

While the magazine's reporter was with Nordegren in Florida, Castro says Woods showed up unannounced to drop off the couple's 3-year-old daughter, Sam, and 1-year old son, Charlie. Elin reminded them to kiss papa goodbye. "It was a very, very pleasant scene and that was one of the surprising things," Castro said. "It shows very clearly there really is no animosity. Elin is moving on." The two will share custody of their children.

In the full interview, Elin also speaks about falling in love with Tiger, the "truly ridiculous" speculation that she harmed Woods on the night of his December car accident and her belief in one day finding another love.

Tags: Elin Nordegren, PEOPLE, Tiger Woods

Comments

(58)

Wednesday 25 August

By Lisa

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Pffft...I am sooooooooooooooo glad she can lol all the way to many banks.......

By onceagain1011

Prostitution was legal in the US prior to the 1910 time frame. As far as Sweden, prostitution isn't illegal, but 'buying' sex is. Yep... you can sell yourself and it's not illegal, but if you're a 'john' you can be arrested. As far as prostitutes being legal it's to regulate, keep it healthy and gain tax revenue. Talk about our crazy laws in the U.S. I'm not quite sure why you care what her father thinks. I'm sure he thinks like any father, his daughter was hurt and humiliated so he hurts for her. Just because prostitution is legal does not mean that people have to act on it. Just like any other vice, smoking, drinking, legal drugs.

By John

She would never have been able to live the live that she is living now without Tiger. I really don't feel too sorry for her. She was just another pretty blonde with a nice body and now she is just another pretty blonde with a nice body and lots of Tiger's money.

By Willow

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No only do I not want you to speak for me, if you insist, I'd appreciate you learning to speak like a normal person!

[ "She will NEVER get married again. Women only need men for their money and sperm. Now she's got the only real two things that women want or need it life. Lots Of Money and Kids. Once they have that the see need to have man around." ]

What the hell language is that anyway?

You're entitled to your opinion...but at least learn how to express it properly!

By Agnes

Elin-good luck for you!!

By gracia

A real lady would say nice thngs. No need to dog a man. Revenge is never acceptable.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

By MARK

GET YOUR 200 MILLION BUCKS AND MOVE ON , ELIN . LADIES , LOVE IS AWESOME BUT IF YOU AREN'T " SEXING " YOUR MAN , HE'S GOING TO LOOK FOR A WOMAN TO HAVE FUN WITH . MAYBE YOU'RE THE JERKS FOR GETTING FAT OR
LAZY !

By woody

SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER , LUCKY TO GET OUT W/YO LIFE,REMEMBER THE IDIOT THAT MARRIED O J DIDNT MAKE IT

By Stacey Goble

Of course she didn't SLAM his Nasty self...She signed THE NICEY WIFEY agreement,,,when he cut her the check!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...I would shut my hole as well for that figure.......

By Ray

I've gone thru a lot of "hell" in my life but it didn't leave me a multi-millionaire with several mansions in different parts of the world.

By gobluespartyon

I wish Elin all the best and I hope there is a man out there that will love her for her. As I have said what Tiger did was wrong isn't the type to get married maybe he has learned not to get married and if he does get married again will not cheat or have an affair. I will always root for Tiger as I was a fan of the golfer not what he did outside of golf and I didn't care what he did in his personal life at least it's all over now and both Elin & Tiger can move on.

By bobj

money fixes everything

Thursday 26 August

By Suga

Yes .....she is enjoying that money and putting on that fake azz face in front of the cameras...and as usual their trying to make it look good but shes getting what shes been wanting without him in the picture..........LOL....Elin had nothing and leaving with alot....she laughing herself all the way to the bank...and saying take that...azzhole....and that money is a security blanket for her...and her new family....LOL......

By Sarita Lopez

Tiger Woods made a terrible mistake cheating on his lovely wife, he is not getting away with it cause she gave him the boot, now he will see his children only when the law permits, he will pay a lot of money in alimony and whatever, looks good on him for beeing a happy penis.

Sunday 24 October

By wyneemarshall

Really she should be blessed that she married tiger,she didn't have money until she hooked up with him.Girl you wont be the last or the first to get cheated on.You know what you was doing and your friend that hooked you two together,,,,a money deal and thats all...so stop playing the good girl.You are a rat like the other rats...getting married to fame and money and quickly dropping kids for more money.

Saturday 28 August

By pm

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It amazes me that people continue to bash Elin in all of this. These two people were married and her support offerred him the opportunity to golf. Elin, from all accounts was and is a wonderful mother and quite frankly I would guess that she is a pretty good person. For all of you who think she should have left with not a penny.....I don't get that. I would suspect that envy factors in here as most couples would not have that kind of money to have to divy up. It was Tiger who put the bomb(s) under his marriage and family. Lets leave it at that. This will only be a small dent in his fiancial portfolio so why are people attacking Elin. I personally wish everyone in this situation well. In particular I hope that Elin is happy as she moves forward....and I hope that they continue to be able to keep the children's best interests at heart. Elin will be able to as it appears that she has all along. Tiger hopefully will learn to do this too.............

Friday 27 August

This is for Wynee Marshall, how can you call Elin a rat, she is not the one that cheated on him, she could get an illness from his happy penis, and not all the money in the world is worth that, so he is the rat with two legs!!

Monday 18 October

By Augsburg

Stay strong, Tiger... I know this has been a rough 10 months for you, but there are brighter days ahead.

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