Woods' mother-in-law in emergency drama

The personal drama that has engulfed Tiger Woods' life continued today after his mother-in-law was taken to hospital from his home.

A spokesman for the Health Central Hospital, in Ocoee, Florida, said Barbro Holmberg was admitted complaining of stomach pains after being assessed by emergency services called to Woods' home at 2.36am (7.36am GMT).

It is the same medical centre the 33-year-old was taken to after his car crash in the early hours of November 27, an incident that has led to a string of claims of affairs involving the married billionaire sportsman.

News of the latest call to the emergency services from the Woods' address provided more fodder for an eager US and global media that has closely followed the sportsman's personal woes.

According to local channel WESH-TV, the woman initially refused transport when medics arrived. But she was later listed as an advanced life support patient.

Video of a middle aged patient being admitted to hospital was broadcast across US national stations as pundits speculated as to who it could be.

Suggestions it was the golfer's mother were soon quashed as a statement from the hospital confirmed that the patient was the mother of Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren.

Ms Nordegren was later reportedly seen entering the hospital. US gossip websites have previously suggested that the Swedish former model has moved out of the family home following the allegations of affairs conducted by her husband.

Dan Yates, a spokesman for Health Central Hospital, said Ms Holmberg's condition was not serious.

Media scrutiny of the golfer's private life has been intense since he crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree.

The incident left the 33-year-old bloodied and dazed, and raised questions over the circumstances leading up to the accident.

It has been speculated that reports of an affair with New York nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel led to a confrontation with his wife shortly before he got into his SUV that morning.

Since the crash, a number of other women have come forward with claims of affairs with the golfer.

One, cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, went as far as releasing a phone message reported to be from Woods asking her to cover up over the alleged affair.

Grubbs told Us Weekly she conducted a lengthy relationship with Woods shortly after the 2007 Masters - two months before Woods' wife gave birth to their first child.

In the voicemail released by the magazine, a man says to Grubbs: "Hey, it's, er, it's Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favour.

"Um, can you please, er, take your name off your phone. My wife went through my phone. And, er, may be calling you.

"If you can, please, take your name off that and, um, and what do you call it just have it as a number on the voicemail, just have it as your telephone number. That's it, OK. You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right. Bye."

Woods has not commented directly on the allegations.

But last week he apologised for letting his family down and said he was dealing with his "behaviour and personal failings".

A statement posted on his website referred to "personal sins" and "transgressions".

"I am not without fault and I am far short of perfect," it added.