--- title: Tiger Woods' Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Gives Touching Graduation Speech description: Elin Nordegren made some points about how much getting a degree mattered to her--she also took a few swings at her famous ex canonical: https://time.com/96016/elin-nordegren-graduation-speech/ author: Kelly Conniff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-12T16:54:51.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:52:46.225Z og:title: Tiger Woods' Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Gives Touching Graduation Speech og:description: Elin Nordegren made some points about how much getting a degree mattered to her--she also took a few swings at her famous ex og:url: https://time.com/96016/elin-nordegren-graduation-speech/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Tiger Woods' Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Gives Touching Graduation Speech twitter:description: Elin Nordegren made some points about how much getting a degree mattered to her--she also took a few swings at her famous ex twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # This Graduation Speech by a Single Mother Will Probably Make You Cry > Sponsored content. 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It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-worth-2026q3/newsletters?i=ac37d7df-4544-4b46-ab6d-a996a88464cb&cr=time-nl-worth-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Elin Nordegren Jokes About Divorce From Tiger Woods During College Graduation Speech [Watch (HLS stream): Elin Nordegren Jokes About Divorce From Tiger Woods During College Graduation Speech](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/xDtI113U.m3u8) (1:43)  _Published 2014-05-12. Elin Nordegren was Rollins University's chosen commencement speaker over the weekend, and many outlets are dramatically dubbing her speech a jab - even a swing - at ex-husband Tiger Woods._  by [Kelly Conniff](https://time.com/author/kelly-conniff/)  ## Kelly Conniff Conniff is deputy editor at TIME. May 12, 2014 4:54 PM UTC  by [Kelly Conniff](https://time.com/author/kelly-conniff/)  ## Kelly Conniff Conniff is deputy editor at TIME. May 12, 2014 4:54 PM UTC A 34-year-old single mother of two gave a moving and often funny graduation speech after Rollins College recognized her as the 2014’s Outstanding Graduating Senior. After nine years of night classes, this student for whom English is a second language, was graduating with a psychology degree and an impressive 3.96 grade-point average. What’s so special about her? Oh nothing, she just used to be married to Mr. Tiger Woods. Elin Nordegren, who famously divorced the disgraced golfer in 2010 after a cheating scandal, spoke passionately about the comfort education has brought in her life, calling it the one thing “no one can take away from you.” She also reflected on how crucial her fellow students were to her time at Rollins, especially when controversy in her personal life threatened to overwhelm her progress in school. Getting to see the struggles of her classmates who were also working to earn a degree in night school proved to be a humbling and worthwhile experience for Nordegren: --- > “” --- The ex-wife of the world’s most famous golfer also couldn’t help but take a few swings at her famous former half: --- > “” --- ## Transcript Elin Nordegren was Rollins University's chosen commencement speaker over the weekend, and many outlets are dramatically dubbing her speech a jab. Even a swing, at ex- husband Tiger Woods. She told the crowd she'd started school in 2005 as a married woman and a new resident in the U. S. but today. I'm a proud American, and I have two beautiful children. But I'm no longer married. [ LAUGH ]. The former wife of golf's most famous face, has remained relatively silent since their split in 2010. At the time, she did give a cover story interview to People Magazine. Saying it would be the only time she'd speak out, as she is a private person. Of course, that was amid rumors, that their massive divorce settlement contained a confidentiality clause. But nowadays Nordegren, is dating wealthy coal magnate Chris Cline. And according to reports, she and Woods's girlfriend Lindsey Vonn are friends. It seems she can comfortably joke about the split. She also told the crowd. It was right after I had taken communication and the media, I was unexpectedly thrust in the media limelight. I probably should have taken more notes in that class. Ultimately Nordegren said, her education had given her comfort as the one consistent thing in her life for the last nine years. She's finishing with a 3. 96 GPA, having majored in Psychology. In the audience to support her were Cline and her two children, with Woods. Thanks for watching. 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