Tiger Woods love split: did golfer cheat on Lindsey Vonn?

The spectre of infidelity is hovering over golfer Tiger Woods once again after an online report claimed that he split with skiier Lindsey Vonn after "cheating" on her with a "faceless, nameless woman".

Woods and Vonn unexpectedly called time on their three-year relationship last week and Vonn later appeared to blame their "incredibly hectic lives", which she said forced them to spend too much time apart.

However, the Daily Mail online quotes a "friend" of the golfer who says: "He had a relapse in the sex department... Lindsey found out about women again."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The former world number one's alleged indiscretion came in February, when he pulled out of the Farmer's Insurance Classic with a bad back, explained the friend, who went on to claim that he had a one-night stand.

"He withdrew from Farmer's. You have to understand, while it's not right, it's not really wrong either. Tiger isn't married. He doesn't really drink or do drugs. So what else does he have when he can't afford to lose again? He allowed to find some relief," said the Mail's source.

"He really wanted Lindsey to be the one. But he blew it again. He can't help himself. He's got an addiction. He relapsed," added the friend. "Knowing Tiger, he doesn't even see it as cheating because there's no romance or feeling there. It's just a stress reliever, like a high-ball or two after a bad day.'

The friend also claimed that Vonn walked out on the golfer after he persuaded her to join him in a therapy session, where he confessed to his "slip".

The damaging claims come on the same day that Woods was hailed in may quarters for sending a letter of support to a young fan with a stammer.

Woods is "not a sportsman renowned for showing his softer side in public", says the Daily Telegraph, which adds that he "let his mask slip" by penning the letter to a schoolboy who had contemplated suicide, saying "I know what it's like to be different and not fit in".

In the letter Woods said he, too, used to stammer and would try to control it by talking to his dog "until he fell asleep". Woods also revealed: "I also took a class for two years to help me, and I finally learned to stop."