Tiger Woods isn’t one to mince his words — especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
According to Daily Mail, the golf icon had a pretty blunt response when friends warned him about getting involved with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. and part of the ever-polarising Trump clan.
When mates raised concerns over the political baggage that could come with dating someone linked to the former US President, Tiger reportedly hit back with just four words: “F**k what people think.”
One insider told the outlet that Tiger’s never been one to get involved in politics publicly. “Tiger has always been publicly apolitical. He has his beliefs and opinions, of course, but he doesn’t make a public spectacle of his political leanings. And dating someone in a political family looks like he’s choosing a side.”
But it seems Woods couldn’t care less. According to the same source, “he didn’t care one bit” about any backlash or public perception. “You can’t tell Tiger to do something he doesn’t want to do. And he felt like this was an important enough relationship to go public with. If someone has a problem, that’s on them, not him.”
The source stressed that despite the connection to the Trumps, this isn’t some big political statement. While Tiger has long had a cordial relationship with Donald Trump, he isn’t using this relationship to shout about his views.
Interestingly, Woods’ children, Sam and Charlie, whom he shares with ex-wife Elin Nordegren, are reportedly on board with the relationship. “The kids understood and were happy, and still are happy,” the insider added. “It was more people thinking about his professional brand who worried about what would happen when the news came out.”
Woods made the relationship Instagram-official back in March with a cosy photo of the couple snuggled in a hammock. “Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side!” he wrote. “At this time, we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts.”
Still, those close to him are a bit nervous. As Radar Online reported, some friends feel Tiger’s in a “very vulnerable state” after a tough few years, with injuries, scandal, and recovery taking their toll. They’re worried Vanessa’s high-energy lifestyle might be a bit too much for his more mellow vibe.
“Vanessa’s known to be a real jet-setter,” said the source. “She’s not someone who’s going to stick around if she’s not finding things exciting. Everyone’s wondering how long it will be before she drops him like a hot rock.”
Meanwhile, Page Six confirmed that Donald Trump himself is fully in the know — and gives the relationship his blessing. “Trump knows about him dating Vanessa and is said to approve,” the source said.