Elin Nordegren: Good with Tiger

— -- Saying that things are "really good" between her and ex-husband Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren praised the golfer as a "good father" in an interview with People magazine.

In her first public comments about Woods in more than four years, Nordegren said things are "really good" between the two, who share custody of their two children, daughter Sam, 6, and son Charlie, 5.

"I have moved on and I am in a good place," Nordegren said. "My relationship with Tiger is centered around our children and we are doing really good -- we really are -- and I am so happy that is the case. He is a great father."

Woods and Nordegren divorced in 2010, less than a year after the golfer admitted to several extramarital affairs, causing him to take a leave of absence from the game. According to the magazine, she lives about 25 minutes from Woods, who built a mansion in Jupiter, Florida.

"In the beginning, you tamp down the animosity for the kids' sake," she said. "I'm not going to deny that I went through the wringer. But I don't think I doubted we'd end up here. That was always my dream, that the kids can have two loving parents that show respect for each other. And I feel that's what we have."

Nordegren's last interview was also with People in April 2010. This one was conducted in her home, and parts of it ran on the magazine's website.

Both children have attended a few of Woods' tournaments in recent years, and he said one of the biggest struggles with his recent back surgery has been trying to not do too much with them.

"They saw me when I first got back, and I'm pretty sore and everything, but then again, they soon forget that and want to go out and play soccer and hit some balls or do something like that," he said Monday at his first public appearance since the March 31 surgery. "That part has been hard."

Woods is continuing his rehab from surgery, and his return to competitive golf is uncertain.