Tiger Woods criticised the founder of a South African game reserve yesterday for alerting newspapers to his engagement to Elin Nordegren and taking photos to promote the reserve's website.

"It was such a great moment in our lives, and he cheapened the experience because he was so self-serving," Woods said in the newsletter he emails to fans.

"The only positive ... is that Elin didn't say no."

Woods said Adrian Gardiner, founder of the Shamwari Game Reserve, promised to protect his privacy during a four-day stay the week after the President's Cup.

He said he was "disgusted" at Gardiner's behaviour.