Tiger Woods has allegedly brushed off concerns from close friends about his new relationship with Vanessa Trump, reportedly telling them, “F*** what people think,” according to the Daily Mail.
The 49-year-old golf icon initially kept his romance with Vanessa, 47 — the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. — out of the public eye. However, after the Daily Mail revealed the relationship, Woods made it official on Instagram in March, sharing photos of the couple with a heartfelt caption:
“Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts.”
Vanessa later addressed the relationship publicly during The Masters in April, an event Woods was unable to attend due to injury.
Sources say Woods informed his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, about the relationship in early January. While her initial reaction reportedly revealed some hesitation, she expressed support for Woods’ new chapter. Woods and Nordegren, who divorced in 2010, share two children: Charlie and Sam.
Despite this, some of Woods’ inner circle have reportedly voiced unease over his decision to date Vanessa. Their concerns center around her ties to the Trump family and her high-profile past, which includes connections to Leonardo DiCaprio and Saudi royalty.
Friends fear the relationship could complicate Woods’ carefully managed public image, especially since he has traditionally avoided overt political affiliations. However, sources say Woods isn’t concerned with appearances or political implications.
“He has his beliefs but keeps them private,” one insider shared. “Dating someone politically connected makes it seem like he’s taking a side, but Tiger doesn’t care. He felt this relationship was worth going public with.”
Additional concerns have been raised about Woods’ ability to keep up with Vanessa’s energetic, public lifestyle, especially as he continues recovering from Achilles tendon surgery.
“Tiger is in a vulnerable state,” one source said. “Vanessa moves fast, and people worry whether he can keep pace.”
Still, Woods reportedly has the full support of his children.
“The kids were supportive and continue to be,” a source noted. “The backlash came more from those concerned about his public image, not his personal happiness.”
