Lightning Hits Tiger's Beach Retreat

A luxury beach house belonging to Tiger Woods has been destroyed by fire after it was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm in Florida.

The golf star had bought the house only recently, one of four on a 12-acre, $38m (£19m) estate on Jupiter Island, near Palm Beach. He plans to convert the property into a giant family compound for his Swedish model wife, Elin, and two-week-old daughter Sam Alexis.

Jim Loffredo, a spokesman for Martin County Fire and Rescue Department, said one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, but no one was injured. The house was empty at the time of the strike. 'Flames were coming out through the roof and the house was pretty much fully engulfed in fire,' Loffredo added.

Woods and his family are living in Orlando, 170 miles to the north, until refurbishment work is complete. He bought the estate, which includes a main house, beach residence and two guesthouses, and private access to an Atlantic Ocean beach, in September 2006.

Woods, who has won 12 golf majors, was the world's highest-paid professional athlete in 2006, with total earnings in excess of $100m.