Former cheerleader Dina Gravell, who was a year older than Woods, was stunned and devastated by the break-up, which she never saw coming.
But she remains convinced it was the work of his parents, Earl and Kutilda, who saw her as an “interference” on the path to golfing greatness they had carefully mapped out for him.
Gravell shared the details of the break-up with Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian, the authors of ‘tiger woods’, a warts-and-all biography of sport’s first billionaire, to be published on Tuesday.
She and Woods started dating when he was just 15. They were in the same accounting class at Western High, the school they attended in the golfer’s home town of Cypress, near Los Angeles, and had been asked by a teacher to act as joint tutors to a struggling classmate.
Gravell put her own plans on hold while Woods moved to Stanford, one of the top schools in the US, and began dominating the college golfing circuit.
She had no idea what was in store when Woods pleaded with her to fly in from her new home in Las Vegas to be with him at a big college tournament because he was nervous over the fact his parents also planned to turn up, something they rarely did.
The book reveals: “Dina packed her suitcase with enough clothing for a long weekend trip The next day, after a short flight, she checked into a hotel room that Tiger had reserved for the two of them.
“Tiger, however, was preoccupied with his own situation. It was more of the same things he’d been talking about with Dina for months – his parents’ dysfunctional relationship, the pressure he was feeling. As usual, she listened. Then they sent the night together.
“The next day, Dina met up with her parents who had flown up from Southern California at the last minute to see her and Tiger. The first round of the tournament was uneventful. Tiger played well, and Dina watched from afar with Tiger’s stepsister, Royce.
“Dina had always liked Royce, who went out of her way to treat Dina like a sister. Royce also shared Dina’s aversion to crowds and celebrity.
“It had been months since Dina had seen Tiger’s parents. When she approached them at the tournament, they turned away and walked off as if she weren’t there. They didn’t even acknowledge her.
“That evening she related the incident to Tiger. He downplayed it, insisting they probably just hadn’t seen her.”
Woods had to go to hospital for a scan on a shoulder injury after the second day’s play, but he turned down Dina’s offer to go with him.
“No no”, he said. “Go with your parents and we’ll just meet up later. I’ll call you.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you,” he replied, kissing her goodbye.
“Five hours passed without a call from Tiger.
“Dina was in her parents’ hotel room when the front desk notified her father that an item had been left for him. It was around 9pm
“Intrigued, Dina’s father went downstairs and discovered the Dina’s suitcase, and an envelope with is daughter’s name on it. He brought them back to the room and handed them to her.
“Confused, Dina looked at her father. The suitcase was the one she had brought with her from Las Vegas. How had I gotten there? She’d left it at the hotel across town where she was staying with Tiger.
“She opened it, and discovered that all her belongings had been packed – cosmetics, toiletries, jeans, shoes, bras, underwear. She shook her head. What was going on?
“She opened the envelope that had come with the suitcase. It contained a handwritten letter. The familiar handwriting sent a chill down her spine.
Dina,
My shoulder is OK, it’s just a strained and overused rotator cuff.
The reason for writing this letter is to inform you of my absolute anger and disappointment in you. Today, I heard from my parents that you were telling everyone in the gallery who would listen that you were ‘Tiger’s girlfriend’.
Then you have the nerve to tell me in the clubhouse that when a reporter asks you who you were, you responded with ‘just a friend’.
My parents, Royce, Louisa, and myself never want to talk or hear from you again. Reflecting back over this relationship I feel used and manipulated by you and your family.
I hope the rest of your life runs well for you. I know this is sudden and a surprise, but it, in my opinion, is much warranted.
Sincerely, Tiger
PS: Please mail my necklace that I gave you to me when you get back home. Don’t show up at the tournament tomorrow because you are just not welcomed.
