Mother-in-law back at Tiger's mansion

Last updated: 9th December 2009

Tiger Woods' mother-in-law returned to the world number one golfer's mansion in Florida on Tuesday after being discharged from hospital.

It was the culmination of another day of fierce speculation into the introverted 14-time major winner's private life.

A spokesman for the Health Central Hospital, in Ocoee, Florida, said Barbro Holmberg was admitted complaining of stomach pains after being assessed by emergency services called to Woods' home at 2.36am (7.36am GMT) on Tuesday.

It is the same medical centre the 33-year-old was taken to after his car crash in the early hours of November 27, an incident that has led to a string of claims of affairs involving the married billionaire sportsman.

News of the latest call to the emergency services from the Woods' address provided more fodder for an eager US and global media that has closely followed the sportsman's personal woes.

According to local channel WESH-TV, the woman initially refused transport when medics arrived. But she was later listed as an advanced life support patient. However, Health Central Hospital spokesman Dan Yates said Ms Holmberg's condition was not serious.

Video of a middle-aged patient being admitted to hospital was broadcast across US national stations as pundits speculated as to who it could be - but a statement from the hospital soon confirmed the patient was the mother of Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren.

Ms Nordegren was later reportedly seen entering the hospital. US gossip websites have previously suggested that the Swedish former model has moved out of the family home following the allegations of affairs conducted by her husband.

Media scrutiny of the golfer's private life has been intense since he crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree.

The incident left Woods bloodied and dazed, and raised questions over the circumstances leading up to the accident.

It has been speculated that reports of an affair with New York nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel led to a confrontation with his wife shortly before he got into his SUV that morning.

Since the crash, a number of other women have come forward with claims of affairs with the golfer.

One, cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, went as far as releasing a phone message reported to be from Woods asking her to cover up over the alleged affair.

Woods has not commented directly on the allegations, but last week he apologised for letting his family down and said he was dealing with his "behaviour and personal failings".

According to a leading American sports business expert, the allegations of infidelity will not lead to Woods losing any endorsement deals.

Sports business analyst Rick Horrow, chief executive of Horrow Sports Ventures, whose clients have included the PGA and LPGA Tours and the National Football League, believes Woods' sponsors - including Nike and PepsiCo - have too much invested in his golfing success to walk away from the American sporting icon.

Horrow said: "Nike has 800 million annual reasons to stay with Tiger Woods - that's the annual revenue that Tiger has generated for Nike Golf - and other sponsors are similarly situated.

"So, while this story may get worse before it gets better, don't look for sponsors to pull out any time soon."