'He didn't exactly love it...' Tiger Woods' change of plan with new girlfriend Vanessa Trump

Tiger Woods was allegedly forced into breaking his silence about his new relationship with girlfriend Vanessa Trump on social media this week, according a report in the Daily Mail. 

Woods, 49, reportedly wanted to keep his relationship with Vanessa Trump, 47, a secret but those plans immediately changed this month after the Daily Mail broke news of his blossoming new romance with Donald Trump Jr's ex-wife. 

The 15-time major champion took to his social media channels to confirm his relationship with Vanessa following the conclusion of the Valspar Championship won by Viktor Hovland on Sunday night. 

"Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side!," wrote Woods, alongside two photos of himself with Vanessa. 

"We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts."

While many of Woods' most ardent fans were happy to see a smile on his face after a number of turbulent years on and off the course, others were shocked by the message since it's not something the former World No.1 would typically ever post about his love life. 

But according to a source close to the Woods camp, it's understood his hand was forced to make an announcement after photos of him and Vanessa had already been captured by the media.

Woods' new girlfriend was no longer a secret. 

"He knew it would be a huge story when it came out," an insider told the Daily Mail. 

"And he didn't exactly love it. 

"But obviously Tiger dating a Trump is always going to make headlines, which is exactly what he wanted to avoid."

According to The Mail's latest report, it's believed Woods and Trump's relationship had been the talk of Palm Beach for quite some time..

Their romance allegedly become an "open secret" with other parents at Benjamin School, where both Woods and Trump's children (Samantha Woods, Charlie Woods, Kai Trump) attend. 

Charlie and Kai are both making giant strides on the golf course, and Samantha is excelling on the football field. 

The insider added: "Benjamin is like a small community, and there's nothing that rich people like to do more than gossip about each other. 

"Frankly, I'm surprised that it was secret for so long."

Related:

• Who is Tiger Woods' girlfriend?

Woods reportedly informed his ex-wife Elin Nordegren, and the mother of his two children, that he was seeing Vanessa Trump earlier in the year. 

A source close to the gossip confirmed to the Daily Mail earlier this week that Woods and Nordegren shared a cordial exchange in January.

Nordegren was said to have initially been surprised upon hearing about Woods' new romantic partner.

"Her first reaction was something along the lines of, ‘Really? A Trump? Are you serious?’" the insider shared.

"But she took it in stride and accepted it pretty quickly. 

"Elin is not someone who reacts impulsively; she processed the information calmly and wished him well."

Woods confirmed earlier this month he had gone undergone yet more surgery, this time for a ruptured achilles. 

It means he will now miss the remainder of action on the PGA Tour this season and he will likely not be back until he turns 50 at the end of the year. 

Some golf fans are expecting Woods to join the over 50s PGA Tour Champions in 2026, especially given he will likely be able to use a golf cart. 

Prior to his ruptured achilles injury, Woods underwent the sixth back surgery of his career in 2024. 

Three years before that he was recovering from ankle and leg injuries sustained during his horror car crash in Los Angeles in February 2021. 

Following Woods' split from Nordegren in 2010, Woods has been in relationships with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and restaurant manager Erica Herman.

Woods' relationship with Herman ended in legal controversy when she filed a lawsuit against him in 2023, alleging that she had been unfairly removed from his Florida residence after their breakup.

Herman ended up dropping the lawsuit at the end of 2023.

Vanessa Trump, a former model and mother of five, has largely avoided the public eye since her divorce with Donald Trump Jr in 2018. 

But she is now very much in the spotlight after Woods confirmed their relationship on social media over the weekend.