Little girls often have crushes on celebrities, but most females don’t grow up to date their childhood infatuations. Perhaps Alyse Lahti Johnston, pro-golfer Tiger Woods’ supposed 22-year-old girlfriend, is fulfilling a childhood fantasy by going out with him, having made crayon pictures for him when she was just a kid.
According to Us Weekly, Johnston, who is 13 years Woods’ junior, has known the athletic legend since she was in grade school and used to “draw good luck pictures for Tiger before his tournaments” as a child.
Woods spent most of last year in the news for reportedly engaging in countless extra-marital affairs, which led to the crumbling of his marriage to Swedish bombshell Elin Nordegren.
Johnston’s stepfather, who reportedly introduced Woods to Johnston, works as an executive at IMG, the agency that represents the champion golf star.
“They started dating around New Year’s Eve after seeing each other at one of her dad’s functions,” a source told Us Weekly of Woods and Johnston’s new coupling.
In November 2009, Woods drove his 2009 Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and tree at 2:30 a.m., causing many to conclude he’d had a dispute with then-wife Nordegren about his infidelity. One source told TMZ that Nordegren had chased Woods out of the house with a golf club in her hand, smashing the pro-golfer’s vehicle as he dashed from their Florida residence.
Like Woods, Johnston has had some car troubles. Late last year, she was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Johnston pleaded no contest to the charge and is reportedly enrolled at Northwood University, which has a Florida campus near Woods’ home.