Ski racer Lindsey Vonn and golfer Tiger Woods ended months of tabloid speculation regarding a dating relationship by posting Facebook photos on Monday. At the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, Woods shared the couple's reasons for the announcement.
"We're very happy where we are, but we wanted to limit the 'stalkerazzi' and all those sleazy websites that are out there following us," Woods said in the press conference. "I've had situations where it has been very dangerous for my kids and the extent that they'll go to.
"We basically devalued the first photos. It's just the way it is in our society right now and we felt it was the best thing to do and we're very happy about it," Woods added.
Prior to his answer regarding the released photos, Woods was initially asked in a light-hearted manner if he planned to seek advice from fellow golfer Rory McIlroy about being in a "sports power couple." Currently ranked number one just ahead of Woods in the golf world rankings, McIlroy is dating tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.
McIlroy recently purchased a home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., near Woods' home in Jupiter, Fla. Both golfers have commented about their building friendship.
In addition to their obvious connection as high-profile athletes, Vonn, 28, and Woods, 37, can share tales of their medical challenges. While Woods underwent ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction surgery on his left knee in 2008, Vonn is currently rehabbing her right knee after ACL surgery in February. Vonn suffered her injury Feb. 5 in a crash at the Alpine World Championships in Austria. She also tore the MCL (medial cruciate ligament) in her knee and suffered a lateral tibial plateau fracture in her leg.
Following the crash, Vonn was critical of the course conditions. She also spoke out at the 2011 World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, about conditions that she felt were unsafe. However, she was not injured at that event.
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