Tiger voted ‘athlete of the decade’ - not by his wife

Any idea that Tiger Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren would set sail on their yacht Privacy and patch up their marriage on a winter cruise appears to be fantasy: latest reports from the US suggest that she has moved out of the family home, consulted a high-powered divorce lawyer and could be about to return home to Sweden with her two children, at least for Christmas and possibly for good.

"She's made up her mind," one of her friends told People magazine. "There's nothing to think about. He's never going to change."

Another unnamed friend said Nordegren was "not going to be one of these 'stand by your man' women". She told MSNBC: "She's a strong woman, this is beyond embarrassing, and she has a daughter and son she has to think about, who will know about this one day."

MSNBC and other media outlets have also reported that some of the women Woods had affairs with were given monthly sums of 'hush money' by the golfer, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. "The money comes via a wire transfer," one of the women alleged. "There's no contract about it, there's no discussion about what it's for, but it's implied that it's in exchange for keeping quiet about his affair."

Meanwhile, in a timely reminder of how the world used to see Tiger before he crashed his car on November 27, the golfer was chosen yesterday as the Associated Press Athlete of the Decade. The honour is voted for by sports editors across the States and comes despite the fact that 50 per cent of the ballots were returned after November 27.

As Mike Strain, sports editor of the Tulsa World, put it: "The only reason I wouldn't vote for Tiger Woods is because of the events of the last three weeks. And I didn't think that was enough to change my vote. I thought he was a transcendent sports figure."

Woods won the honour for the amazing record of 64 victories in 10 years, including 12 majors. "Despite the tsunami of negative publicity that will likely tarnish his image, there's no denying that Woods's on-the-course accomplishments set a new standard of dominance within his sport while making golf more accessible to the masses," said Stu Whitney, sports editor of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Quite what Tiger will make of the honour is anyone's guess. A friend told the New York Daily News that the golfer was "contrite but disoriented" and "still can't believe this is happening."

He is said to be planning to spend Christmas with a small group of male friends, no doubt readying himself for a hefty demand from Sorrell Trope, the lawyer Nordegren has reportedly chosen to negotiate her divorce settlement. At the ripe old age of 82, Trope is still reckoned to be one of the toughest big-money divorce attorneys in the States. Previous clients include Nicole Kidman and Britney Spears. ·