The legendary golf player Tiger Woods and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren share two kids, a daughter named Sam Alexis and a son known as Woods’ mini-me Charlie Axel.
The former couple welcomed their first child in 2007, and then two years later, they celebrated the arrival of their second. Sadly, their little happy family of four didn’t last long. In 2010, Woods and Nordegren finalized their divorce after Woods’ very public and headline-making cheating scandals.
Since their kids were just toddlers then, they weren’t aware of why their Mom and Dad had separated. However, he knew that it was important for them to know, so he was upfront about it to a level that they could understand.
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In a 2016 interview with Charlie Rose, Woods shared that he had taken the initiative to open up to both kids and told them that he and Mom were not together because he made mistakes. However, he did not tell them exactly what happened.
They moved past their issues for their kids’ sake and fully committed to co-parenting them. The two split their time between Woods and Nordegren.
Woods admitted that doing things solo was way more difficult, but seeing their growth was the greatest reward. They had always inspired and encouraged him to move forward and thrive, especially in the hardest obstacles.
Want to know more about Tiger Woods’s kids? Here’s everything we know about Sam and Charlie.
Sam Alexis Woods
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Sam Alexis was born in Orlando, Florida, on June 18, 2007. She was named after her father’s nickname, given to him by her grandfather.
According to the golfing superstar, he and Nordegren wanted to have a name that was meaningful to either side of the family. She was also born the day after Father’s Day, and they thought Sam would fit her well.
Woods shared that his father had always called him that name since birth. In fact, he rarely called him by his given name. He asked him once why he did, to which his father simply replied, “Well, you look more like a Sam.”
Aside from giving her his nickname, Woods also started Sam on golf as early as possible – just a few weeks old. He said he would put a golf club in her hands, though she couldn’t quite hold it yet.
When she turned six months old, she made her debut appearance at her dad’s golfing competition. Over the years, she would always be spotted in the audience, rooting for him. At one point, she even served as his adorable caddy.
Woods deeply cherished those moments. To him, having his kids out there cheering for him was a full circle.
After the divorce, Sam continued to cheer on him from the sidelines. However, she did become so worried when her dad suffered injuries to the point that she (and her sibling) asked him not to practice anymore so that he wouldn’t be in pain.
Thankfully, Woods made a comeback, and his kids could watch him play golf at his prime and enjoy the rush and the excitement of the game.
In 2021, Woods talked about his daughter in an interview, sharing how she taught him to be more patient, and though she was already a teenager, she was still his little girl. A year later, she gave the introduction speech for her father’s induction to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
In her speech, Sam talked about his car accident just months before that. “We didn’t know if you’d come home with two legs or not. Now, you’re not only about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’re standing here on your own two feet,” she said. Then, she continued to say that it was that very reason that he deserved the honor.
“You’re a fighter. You’ve defied odds every time.”
Charlie Axel Woods
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Woods and Nordegren welcomed their second child and baby boy, Charlie Axel, on February 8, 2009. Just like his sister, his name also held meaning to the family. Axel was the name of the Nordegren’s brother. As for “Charlie,” they thought it was just the perfect fit.
Charlie was definitely a sports kid, showing his athletic interests as early as two years old. In fact, according to Woods, he only needed “a stick and a ball” to be happy. He liked exploring all types of sports, but as he grew up, he started following in his dad’s footsteps and started training with professional golf players.
Even though the young Woods was a natural in the sport, his dad admitted that he never pressured him into playing. The legendary golf player didn’t want him to hate the game. Unlike what he experienced then as a kid, he took on a more fun and relaxed approach to training his kid, including hosting putting contests in the backyard.
By 11, Charlie was already sweeping off awards. His dad, who served as his caddy in one tournament, was proud of him. Woods also shared that being there with his son was an absolute blast. Some of his best memories were being out there on the course with his dad, so he couldn’t help but get emotional about it.
During this time, the father and son also had the opportunity to compete in their first tournament together, the 2020 PNC Championship in Orlando. After the event, Woods spoke with the reporters and expressed how grateful he was to have the experience. He didn’t have the words to describe it, but it was a core memory not just for him but also for little Charlie.
It wasn’t just the athletic prowess that fans noticed when the duo played their game. They also quickly noticed how incredibly similar their mannerisms were on the course – from their stances to how they take off their gloves to how they play (including the twirling of their golf clubs after they swing and pick up the ball).
That was definitely interesting, though not entirely surprising, since Charlie had been trained by his dad, and he had watched him play so many times. He would undoubtedly pick up a few things.
In 2021, Woods suffered a major car accident and shared that watching Charlie play motivated him during his recovery. By the end of that year, they participated in another round of the PNC Championship, which was a first for Woods since the accident. The next year, they played again. Though they didn’t finish first, Charlie said that it was his dad’s best play in a while.
Woods laughingly shared that he was shocked by Charlie’s statement. He then added, saying he used to be good. “It was neat to be able to roll back the clock for him to see what I used to be capable of.” The two are set to once again play for the PNC Championship in December 2023.
Last September 2023, Charlie bagged a win in the Notah begay III Junior Gold National Championships when he won his age group’s regional qualifiers. Of course, he had his 15-time champ dad as his caddie.
According to Charlie, he had a great partnership with his dad, staying in their own little world and taking it one shot at a time. “He puts me in my place. I’ll talk about the next tee shot and he’s like, ‘No. This is the shot we’re gonna focus on. Focus up, this is what we’re gonna do.'”
Tiger Woods and his kids have built a good relationship over the years, and better things are yet to come.