Around the fall of 1999, Bingo Rimer, one of Sweden's leading fashion photographers, saw a candid photo of Elin Nordegren. Impressed with her looks, Rimer talked Nordegren into modeling for a couple of shoots early the next year. "She is magnificent—Swedish high quality," Rimer, a contributor to Scandinavian Playboy, told Golf magazine. "To be a top model, both men and women have to love you. Elin is very sexy, but it's a fresh, natural, sporty look, and girls like that too. She is not the big-boobed, blond-bimbo type that only guys like." Nordegren's brief modeling career took off from there. STLA / Fame Pictures In the summer of 2000, Nordegren appeared on the cover of Sweden's Café Sport magazine in what the New York Daily News called "a sizzling bikini shot." Nordegren didn't model much after that, however, because she enrolled, with her twin sister, Josefin, at Lund University, one of Sweden's top universities, where she studied law. STLA / Fame Pictures In March 2002, Nordegren was first publicly seen at Tiger Woods' side, at the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Florida. The couple's relationship grew more open after that, and the paparazzi, not surprisingly, targeted them from then on. At Christmastime, Woods traveled to Sweden to meet Nordegren's family, staying in the village of Parlstrom. Bryan Snyder, Reuters / Landov On Oct. 6, 2004, Nordegren married Woods at the Sandy Lane Golf and Country Club in Barbados in a ceremony that reportedly cost $1.5 million. Former NBA stars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, and Microsoft CEO Bill Gates were among the more than 120 guests. The wedding band: Hootie and the Blowfish, who performed under a tent on the Green Monkey golf course's 19th hole. Newscom 2007 was a good year for the Woodses. The day after her husband tied for second at the U.S. Open, Nordegren gave birth to their first child, Sam Alexis Woods. The couple released the first official photos of their expanding family soon thereafter. "Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully," Woods wrote on his website. "We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work. This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks. We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy." Zuma Press / Newscom Nordegren and her daughter were quite public in supporting an on-fire Woods during his glory days. In June 2008, he won the 108th U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Here Nordegren passes little Sam over to her father after his victory, whereupon he posed for photographers at the 18th hole. Jeff Gross / Getty Images Nordegren was one of many visible "hottie" golf wives who turned out to cheer for their husbands. Flanked by Amy Campbell (wife of Chad), Tabitha Furyk (wife of Jim), Amy Mickelson (wife of Phil), and Melissa Lehman (wife of Tom), Nordegren listens to the U.S. national anthem at the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland. David Cannon / Getty Images Win or lose, Nordegren was by Woods' side before their marriage went sour and his infidelities were brought to light. She is seen here kissing her husband after he lost his match at the 2005 President's Cup. Shaun Best, Landov / Reuters The Woodses' former home at Erik Dahlbergs alle 9 pa in Stockholm. Nordegren kept the $2 million penthouse apartment in the divorce. SCANPIX / Sipa Elin—wait, no, Josefin, skiing in Chamonix. Twin sister Josefin Lönnborg has occasionally let herself be mistaken for Nordegren to help her sister evade paparazzi. In this picture, taken on Jan. 2, 2010, many news outlets wrongly identified her as Nordegren. Josefin practices law in London; she is moments younger than her sister. BauerGriffin.com The Gävle Palace is the official residence of Nordegren's mother, Barbro Holmberg, the Social Democratic governor of Gävleborg County. Nordegren came here in May 2010 with her two children as the divorce proceedings were picking up. According to her mother, neither Elin nor her sister, Josefin, likes staying in the 16th-century castle on account of the reputed ghosts: a man who was executed and walled into the basement as well as a maid who set the castle on fire. SCANPIX / Sipa Here is Nordegren jogging along the Gävlean River during her May vacation in Gävle, Sweden, where her mother is governor. Media reported that she was running without her wedding ring. Meanwhile, Woods was lawyering up for the divorce. SCANPIX / Sipa Purchased by Nordegren on Dec. 1, 2009, this six-bedroom house, surrounded by various outbuildings on Faglaro Island, was listed at $2.2 million. The quickest route to the island is a 45-minute ferry ride from Vaxholm, where Nordegren grew up. "The Faglaro mansion used to be an old farm. It is solid and big and can be used throughout the year," Stenake Johansson, chairman of the Residential Association on Faglaro Island, told the Associated Press. There were rumblings that Woods and Nordegren escaped to the Swedish hideaway in December 2009 following the revelation that Woods had carried on multiple extramarital affairs. Anders Wiklund, AFP / Getty Images Nordegren gave birth to her and Woods' second child, son Charlie, on Feb. 7, 2009. In a recent interview, Nordegren opened up about her split from Woods, saying "My children are the reason I'm getting through this." She also said she hopes, for her children's sake, she'll eventually be able to forgive Woods. "Forgiveness takes time," she said. "I am going to be completely honest and tell you I am working on it... And I know I will get there eventually." Barcroft / Fame Pictures Now that Nordegren's divorce to Woods has been finalized, the 30-year-old mother of two is looking to the future. In an interview with People, Nordegren said that despite her husband's betrayal, "I also feel stronger than I ever have. I have confidence in my beliefs, my decisions, and myself." Nordegren is pursuing a degree in psychology from Rollins College in Florida, but her main focus will be raising her two children with Woods, daughter Sam and son Charlie. "My immediate plan is for the kids and me to continue to adjust to our new situation," said Nordegren. "I am going to keep taking classes, but my main focus is to try to give myself time to heal." Andrew Redington / Getty Images