Golfer Parnevik breaks ranks to criticise Tiger

The first fellow professional golfer to criticise Tiger Woods for his alleged marital indiscretions has broken ranks. Jesper Parnevik, the Swede who was responsible for introducing Tiger to Elin Nordegren, said: "I really feel sorry for Elin - since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him. We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologise to her."

Parnevik (pictured above with Woods in 2001) and his wife Mia employed Elin as an au pair in 2001. It was while she was working for them at the British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes that she and Tiger met.

Remarking on the world number one's claim that he had "the right to some simple, human measure of privacy", Parnevik countered: "It's a private thing, of course, but when you are the guy he is, the world's best athlete, you should think more before you do stuff."
 
In a statement issued yesterday, Woods apologised to his family for his "transgressions". But he insisted that the rumours that Elin had attacked him prior to his car crash last Friday were unfounded. "The stories... that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious," he said.

According to earlier reports, Elin used a three-iron to smash the rear windows of Tiger's Cadillac Escalade to help free him from the car. "[Let's] hope she uses a driver next time," said Parnevik. ·