Golf: Ex-lover likens Smail to adulterous Woods

New Zealand golfer David Smail broke off with his lover three weeks ago. Photo / Simon Baker

A jilted Japanese lover of No 1 Kiwi golfer David Smail has compared him to serial adulterer Tiger Woods.

But unlike Elin Nordegren, who is in line to receive a US$100 million ($140 million) divorce settlement from Woods, Smail's wife, Sheree, is standing by her man and expects him to return to the Japanese tour.

Mrs Smail, a former professional golfer herself, told the Waikato Times she was "shocked, stunned and devastated" when she learned of her husband's affair with 27-year-old Sato Kurihara.

Miss Kurihara claims she was involved with Smail for three years, something he denies.

Despite her husband's infidelity, Mrs Smail is remaining stoic about their future together.

"We're not going to let her dictate to us what we'll do with our lives, we're not," she said.

She then added to her husband: "You'll go back to Japan and you'll blinkin' win too."

David Smail said Miss Kurihara threatened his life, her own life and to expose their relationship to the media in Japan and New Zealand when he tried to end the affair.

She has since forwarded intimate images of the couple to news outlets.

In broken English, Miss Kurihara described the Hamilton golfer as New Zealand's version of serial adulterer Tiger Woods, but Smail also denies this, saying he has had only one affair.

Smail, who has earned more than $10 million over 13 years playing golf in Japan, said he had ended their relationship three weeks ago.

When she threatened him, Smail said, he told Miss Kurihara he would leave his wife and kids and marry her. He was trying to to buy some time.

"That [leaving his marriage] was never the case. I was in such a bad situation with threats that I ended up having to lie to her to protect everybody, to get on with organising a lawyer in Japan.

"I've made a terrible mistake and had a relationship and that was unacceptable. I'm just really sorry to my family and friends. If I had my time again, I'd change everything."

Smail is taking legal action against Miss Kurihara. He says she is stalking him.

Mrs Smail, who received a call from Miss Kurihara last week revealing the affair, said she had interfered with the wrong marriage.

"She's not going to win any battle with us and that's all she's ever planned to do from the word go. She doesn't know what she messed with when she picked us to battle with."

The Weekend Herald visited the Smails' plush gated home in the affluent Hamilton suburb of Tamahere and left several messages for the couple but received no answer.

A source close to Smail said the news of his affair had come as a complete shock. She said he was "well liked" and "a good guy".

"It's probably difficult with him away so much but they really didn't need for this to happen," she said.

In an interview with the Herald last year, Smail said the best thing about his job was making a lot of good friends.

The worst ? "Being away from my family."