Tiger Woods' Two Kids: All About Sam and Charlie
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- UPDATED JUNE 26, 2024
by Tasha Mayberry
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Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren have mastered the art of co-parenting. The former couple wed in the early 2000s, and in 2007, they celebrated the arrival of their first child, daughter Sam Alexis. The family grew again in 2009 with the birth of their son, Charlie Axel. By the time their children were toddlers, Woods found himself embroiled in a scandal after reports surfaced of his multiple affairs during the marriage. Woods and Nordegren finalized their divorce in 2010, but despite the drama, they have worked to keep the best interests of Sam and Charlie in mind. “I just love being with them and seeing what they’re doing, what they’re capable of doing – the joys, just the shifts of interest. It’s just fun. We have a great time together,” the professional golfer said in 2011. Here’s everything you need to know about Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren’s children.
Sam Alexis Woods, 17
Woods and Nordegren’s older child, Sam Alexis Woods, was born on June 18, 2007, in Orlando, Florida. The couple chose a name with special meaning, as Woods’ father had always called him Sam when he was growing up. “We wanted to have a name that would be meaningful to either side of the family, my side or Elin’s side, because she was born [the day after] Father’s Day. It just happened to fit. My father had always called me Sam since the day I was born. He rarely ever called me Tiger.
I would ask him, ‘Why don’t you ever call me Tiger?’ He says, ‘Well, you look more like a Sam,'” the golfer explained. Woods instilled a love of sports in his daughter from the very beginning, sharing that he put a golf club in Sam’s hands when she was just a few weeks old—although “she couldn’t quite hold it.” At just six months old, Sam attended the first of many of her dad’s golfing competitions. Following Woods and Nordegren’s split, the athlete later revealed that he was upfront about the situation with his young children. While he didn’t tell them exactly what happened, he admitted to making mistakes.
Charlie Axel Woods, 15
In 2008, Woods and Nordegren announced they were expecting their second child, and on February 8, 2009, they welcomed their son, Charlie Axel Woods. Woods explained that while they had a few names to choose from, Charlie “just fit.” Meanwhile, the little boy’s middle name paid tribute to Nordegren’s brother. Charlie showed an interest in athletics from a young age, with Woods saying that at just 2 years old, the only thing the little boy wanted to do was play sports. The golfer joked that all Charlie needed was “a stick and a ball,” and he was happy.
While Charlie was interested in all types of sports as a child, he eventually began to follow in his father’s footsteps on the green. With the help of his dad, he got an early start to his golfing career, not only watching from the sidelines but also training alongside the pros. Even though Woods says Charlie is a “natural,” he admits he’s never wanted to pressure him into playing for fear of making him “hate the game.” That’s why he’s tried to make the experience fun, hosting putting contests in the backyard and taking a more relaxed approach to training than what he experienced as a kid.
Tiger Woods' Dating History: From Elin Nordegren to Erica Herman
Tiger Woods has had his fair share of relationship ups and downs over the years. The golf pro has been linked to several women, including former wife Elin Nordegren, and ex-girlfriends Lindsey Vonn and Erica Herman. After Woods’ infidelity was exposed in 2009 and a difficult divorce from Nordegren, the exes have co-parented their kids, daughter Sam Alexis and son Charlie Axel, together. “My regret will last a lifetime,” he wrote in his 2017 memoir, Tiger Woods – Unprecedented, The Masters and Me.
Still, Elin and I are devoted to our kids, and we have become best friends as we care for them. It’s all about the kids for us.” Woods later moved on to a public relationship with Vonn from 2013 to 2015 and a more private one with Herman from 2017 until 2022. Though the Olympic skier shared that things ended amicably with her ex, his most recent split ended on less friendly terms. In 2023, Herman filed a lawsuit against Woods, asking to be removed from a non-disclosure agreement she signed at the start of their relationship, citing a law that allows NDAs to be nullified in cases of sexual assault.
