Matchmaker Parnevik hits out at Woods
WORLD No1 Tiger Woods’ troubles have deepened after he was subjected to a stinging personal rebuke by fellow player Jesper Parnevik, the man whose former nanny Elin went on to become Woods’ wife.
Woods, 33, has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent days amid allegations of extramarital affairs, and on Wednesday issued a lengthy statement saying he had “let his family down”.
Parnevik, 44, yesterday broke ranks with the rest of the golfing community by criticising the highest-earning sportsman in the world, saying he wished he had never introduced Elin to Woods.
“I feel very sad of course,” said the Swede. “I really feel sorry for Elin since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him. We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologise to her.”
Referring to suggestions – vehemently denied by Woods – that an attack by Elin had contributed to his car crash last week, Parnevik added: “I hope she uses a driver next time instead of a three iron.”
And in a reference to one of Woods’ many lucrative sponsorship contracts, former world No7 Parnevik said: “It is a private thing of course, but when you are the guy he is, when you are the world’s best athlete, you should think a little before you do stuff, and maybe not ‘just do it’, like Nike says.”
Rachel Uchitel, one of the women romantically linked with Woods, yesterday cancelled a press conference.