Tiger Woods has regained his form on the PGA Tour after winning two events this year ahead of the Masters and he made more headlines this week after he came out publically with his relationship with Lindsey Vonn ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which begins on Thursday.
According to ESPN.com, Woods said he released the pictures and announced the relationship with Vonn to help avoided constant harassment by the media and paparazzi and because he felt it was in the best interests of his children. The 37-year-old golfer announced the news on his Facebook page on Tuesday about the relationship and said that they have been seeing each other for some time.
"It's very simple. We're very happy where we're at, but also we wanted to limit the stalkarazzi and all those sleazy websites that are out there following us,'' Woods said Wednesday at the Bay Hill Club, where he will play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational starting Thursday. "I've had situations where it's been very dangerous for my kids and the extent they'll go to. We basically devalued the first photos."
Woods has been hot to start the season, winning two tournaments prior to the Masters for the first time since 2005, taking the Farmers Insurance Open as well as the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Woods is preparing to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which starts Thursday at the Bay Hill Club.
Woods has experience with media hounds after his high-profile sex scandal and divorce from ex-wife Elin Nordegren and now will have to deal with it a bit more as he and Vonn are world-class athletes. Vonn was already photographed in his car while attending Woods' daughters sports game and reports said she waited in the car an hour to avoid seeing Nordegren.
Woods has been playing much better this year and while that may not be because of Vonn, he already has five victories over the past year the number one ranking is within reach again for him after he dropped it to Rory McIlroy. A victory at Bay Hill would put him in the number one spot again and he will start off on Thursday morning with Ernie Els and Justin Rose.
Woods will be looking for a good performance, as this is his last tournament before playing the Masters in April.
