Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik says he “probably needs to apologise” to Tiger Woods’ wife Elin, having introduced them.

Woods’ tour friends and rivals were mostly supportive of the world No.1 following his “profound apology” on his website for “transgressions” in his private life which let his family down.

But Parnevik, who once employed Swedish former model Elin Nordegren as a nanny and introduced her to Woods, was an exception.

Speaking to the Golf Channel from the US PGA Tour’s qualifying tournament in West Palm Beach, Florida, Parnevik expressed dismay for Nordegren Woods, who is dealing with allegations that Woods had extra-marital affairs.

Police said she told them she smashed out the back window of his vehicle with a golf club when he crashed it in mysterious circumstances outside their Florida home early on Friday, before the allegations became public.

“I really feel sorry for Elin – since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him,” Parnevik said.

“We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologise to her and hope she uses a driver next time instead of a 3-iron.”

“It’s a private thing of course,” he added. “But when you are the guy he is, the world’s best athlete, you should think more before you do stuff…and maybe not ‘Just do it,’ like Nike says.”

Woods’s other PGA Tour friends and rivals were largely backing the superstar who has taken their game to an unprecedented level of global prominence.

World No.3 Steve Stricker welcomed Woods’ move to address the allegations that have swirled since he crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree.

But Stricker, like many of his fellow pros, wasn’t sure just how much explanation Woods owed to anyone other than his wife.

“I was happy to see it come out a little bit, not happy on what was said in there, but just happy that he came out and addressed it,” Stricker said.

“But I’m on that fence whether it’s even any of our business or not.

“I wish it could have just been handled with Elin and Tiger if there was a problem. Do we really need to know? I guess that’s the bottom line,” he added.

“Everybody likes to get into these celebrities’ personal lives and it’s all fascinating and everything. But deep down what does it really matter?”

Stricker is among the 18 golfers scheduled to tee it up on Thursday in the Chevron World Challenge, an event Woods has hosted annually to benefit his charitable foundation.

The golfing star announced on Monday in the midst of the media storm that he would not attend the tournament at Thousand Oaks, near Los Angeles.

Stricker acknowledged that the hugely popular 14-time major champion would eventually have to do a little image rebuilding, but said his vast army of fans worldwide would prove forgiving.

“I think his image is going to take a little bit of a shot,” Stricker said, expressing hope that Woods would make television appearances to “pour it out” and explain what happened.

“People forget, and if he just does the right things from here on out, people will forgive him and move on.”

Rising US star Anthony Kim said Woods had generously supported him in his early days on the tour and deserved credit for his professionalism in the face of constant public scrutiny.

“He has done so much for the game of golf, so much for other people. His charities are tremendous and support so many kids and their futures,” said Kim, who is playing in the Chevron World Challenge.

“Whatever the problems may be and all the speculation, you wish the best for him,” he added. “I know he’s going to come out a better man out of this.”

The golfer’s stature meant his predicament was news throughout the sports world.

“The best thing you can do is manage it the best way that you can,” said LeBron James, star of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. “You can’t mirror anybody else’s image. You just have to do it and figure out what works for you and go from there.”

© AFP 2012

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