HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — As the man responsible for introducing Tiger Woods to his wife, Elin Nordegren, Jesper Parnevik is less than thrilled with the affair rumors swirling around the world's No. 1 golfer.
"I really feel sorry for Elin — since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him," the Swedish golfer told the Golf Channel on Wednesday as infidelity rumors continued to surround Woods.
Nordegren, 29, began working as a nanny for Parnevik and his wife, Mia, in 2000. The couple introduced the Swedish model to Woods at the 2001 British Open, with the pair eventually marrying in 2004.
"We probably thought he was a better guy than he is," said Parnevik, who is currently at the PGA Tour's qualifying tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla. "I would probably need to apologize to her and hope she uses a driver next time instead of the 3-iron."
"It's a private thing, of course," he added. "But when you are the guy he is — the world's best athlete — you should think more before you do stuff ... and maybe not 'Just do it,' like Nike says."
Parnevik was of course referring to the now infamous middle-of-the-night accident in which Woods crashed his SUV just outside his Florida home. Nordegren told authorities that she "used a golf club to smash out the back window" to free her husband.
The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods has been having an affair with a New York nightclub manager named Rachel Uchitel. Uchitel has since denied the affair claims, however a second woman, Jaimee Grubbs, claims to have had a 31-month fling with Woods in the latest issue of Us Weekly.
On Wednesday, Woods offered a heartfelt apology on his official Web site.
"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," the 33-year-old golfer wrote. "I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone."
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