US: World number one golfer Tiger Woods is to marry his Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren, a 23-year-old former model.
Woods, 27, popped the question after the President's Cup golf competition in South Africa, the Swedish newspaper Expressen reported. She said Yes and called her father, telling him: "Dad, we are engaged."
"She called me yesterday morning and was incredibly happy," said Elin's father, Thomas Nordegren, a Swedish radio journalist.
Woods and Elin became enaged during a four-day stay at South Africa's luxury Shamwari game reserve near the coastal city of Port Elizabeth. Woods had proposed to Nordegren during a sunset walk.
Woods' party left for the US early yesterday aboard a private jet "with Ms Nordegren sporting a huge diamond on her finger", said a Shamwari statement. The wedding is to take place in Sweden but the couple are in no rush, Expressen reported.
Tiger met Elin when she was working as a nanny to the children of Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik. The couple's romance has caused concern to Woods' father, Earl. He once declared: "Let's face it, a wife can sometimes be a distraction to a good game of golf. Case in point. 'That's all you do is practise. Why don't you stay home here and have some quality time with me?' 'Honey, I'm a professional golfer.' 'Well I'm your wife.' He doesn't need that." - (Reuters)