Vanessa Trump, the former wife of Donald Trump Jr., and golf icon Tiger Woods are officially an item. The couple confirmed their romance on Sunday, March 23, 2025, with Woods sharing intimate photos on X and Instagram, captioned, “Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together.” After months of whispers, their relationship is no longer a secret—and it’s teeing up to be one of the year’s most talked-about pairings.
How It Started: A Thanksgiving Sparkc
The romance kicked off around Thanksgiving, according to The Daily Mail, which first broke the news on March 13. Sources say Vanessa, 47, and Woods, 49, bonded over their shared Palm Beach, Florida, stomping grounds—they live just 20 minutes apart in the ritzy enclave. Their connection deepened through their kids, both avid golfers. Vanessa’s daughter Kai, 17, a rising star committed to the University of Miami’s golf team, attends The Benjamin School alongside Woods’ kids, Sam, 17, and Charlie, 16, from his marriage to Elin Nordegren.
“They’ve been seeing each other since just before Thanksgiving,” a source told The Daily Mail. “It’s a natural fit—they’re both private, love golf, and their kids are on the same path.” Early sightings fueled the rumors: in February, they arrived together at the Genesis Invitational in San Diego with Kai, per People photos here. By March, the chatter was inescapable.
Going Public: Woods’ Big Reveal
Woods made it official with two heart-melting pics. One shows them standing side by side, arms around each other, grinning like they’ve hit a hole-in-one. The other’s a cozy shot—Vanessa draped across Woods in a hammock, him gazing up as she nestles close. “At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts,” he added, a nod to his famously guarded personal life. Check the post on Fox News here.
The announcement came days after Kai and Charlie competed together at the Junior Invitational in South Carolina, a March 19-21 event at Sage Valley Golf Club. Vanessa and Woods were spotted there too, per The Guardian, cheering from the sidelines—a family affair that’s only tightened their bond.
The Backstory: Vanessa’s Journey
Vanessa Trump (née Haydon) isn’t new to the spotlight. Born in New York City in 1977, she modeled in her teens under her mom’s Kay Models agency, rubbing elbows with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and a Saudi prince in the ‘90s, per Business Insider. She met Donald Trump Jr. in 2003 at a fashion show—introduced twice in one night by his dad, then-President Donald Trump, she told The New York Times. They married in 2005 at Mar-a-Lago, had five kids—Kai, Donald III, Tristan, Spencer, and Chloe—and split amicably in 2018 after 12 years.
Since the divorce, Vanessa’s kept it low-key, focusing on motherhood and steering clear of public romance—until Woods. She’s stayed tight with the Trump clan, attending Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration with her kids and Don Jr.’s new girlfriend, Bettina Anderson, per Vanity Fair. Her ex, now dating Anderson after a messy split from Kimberly Guilfoyle, is “cool” with her moving on. “Don Jr. and Vanessa have a solid co-parenting thing going,” the insider said. “He’s fine with Tiger.”
Tiger’s Take: From Scandal to Stability
Woods brings his own saga to the table. The 15-time major champ’s personal life has been a rollercoaster—his 2010 divorce from Nordegren after a cheating scandal rocked the world, followed by a high-profile fling with skier Lindsey Vonn (2013-2015) and a messy 2022 breakup with Erica Herman, complete with NDA lawsuits. Lately, he’s been quieter, co-parenting Sam and Charlie and nursing injuries—like the Achilles rupture he announced March 11, sidelining him for 2025’s golf season after surgery in West Palm Beach.
His ties to the Trumps go back years. Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019, calling him “a true legend.” They’ve golfed together often, and Woods spoke at a White House Black History Month event in February 2025, per Mercury News. Now, he’s linked to the family in a whole new way.
What’s Cooking: A Casual Connection
So far, it’s a laid-back love. “It’s very casual,” a source told People on March 17. “She comes to his Jupiter Island place a few nights a week—they hang out, have dinner, keep it chill.” No red-carpet strut yet—they’re sticking close to home, dodging the paparazzi glare. Another insider added, “Vanessa’s always gone for big names. Tiger fits that mold, but she’s discreet—motherhood comes first.”
Their kids’ golf dreams are the glue. Kai’s a top junior golfer, and Charlie’s following his dad’s footsteps—both shone at the Junior Invitational. Vanessa’s been a regular at Woods’ TGL matches (a techy golf league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy), spotted with Kai last month at Palm Beach State College’s SoFi Center, per The Mirror US. It’s a shared passion that’s turned neighbors into something more.
Reactions: From Exes
Elin Nordegren got the heads-up pre-announcement in an “awkward but civil” call, as per insider. “Seriously? A Trump?” she reportedly quipped, amused but unbothered—her kids like Vanessa, so there’s no drama. Don Jr.’s chill too, despite his own tabloid tangles with Anderson. Trump Sr. hasn’t weighed in, but given his Woods fandom, he’s likely grinning.
What’s Next?
No wedding bells yet—it’s early days. Woods is sidelined with his Achilles recovery, and Vanessa’s juggling her brood. But with their kids’ golf careers heating up and Palm Beach as their playground, this romance could swing into something serious. “They’re taking it slow, but it’s heading somewhere,” a New York Post source hinted. For now, they’re savoring the honeymoon phase—hammock cuddles and all.