"In hindsight, it’s not how I would change 2009 and how it all came about. It would be having a more open, honest relationship with my ex-wife," Woods told the magazine. "Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic. She’s one of my best friends. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time."
Today, Woods said the former couple are focused on their two kids, daughter Sam and son Charlie: "We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids. I wish I would have known that back then."
When asked why he didn't recognize that before, Woods said, "Either that’s the position I was in, or I took advantage of opportunities. "
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Bloomberg via Getty Images
Tiger Woods greeting then-wife Elin Nordegren and their daughter Sam after winning the 108th U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf in 2008.
Woods, who turns 40 at the end of the month, also talked about what he's told the kids about the split.
"I've told [Nordegren] this, I've taken the initiative with the kids, and told them up front, 'Guys, the reason why we're not in the same house, why we don't live under the same roof, Mommy and Daddy, is because Daddy made some mistakes,'" he told Time. "I just want them to understand before they get to Internet age and they log on to something or have their friends tell them something. I want it to come from me so that when they come of age, I'll just tell them the real story."
Though famously press-shy, Nordegren has talked a bit about the exes' co-parenting relationship as well.
“My relationship with Tiger is centered around our children and we are doing really good -- we really are -- and I am so happy that this is the case," the former model told People magazine last year. "He is a great father."
More From HuffPost:
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren: Through The Years
(01 of13)
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Seal, Heide Klum, Elin Woods and Tiger Woods . (Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage) (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
(02 of13)
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Tiger Woods' wife Elin Nordegren and their son Charlie are seen at Sony Ericsson Open on April 2, 2010 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Larry Marano/FilmMagic) (credit:Larry Marano via Getty Images)
(03 of13)
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Tiger Woods is greeted by his son Charlie Woods, wife Elin Woods and daughter Sam Woods after the final round of the 2009 AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods, held at Congressional Country Club on July 5, 2009 in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images) (credit:Darren Carroll via Getty Images)
(04 of13)
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Tiger Woods and his wife Elin walk down the catwalk during the Ryder Cup Gala Dinner at Citywest Hotel and Golf Resort September 20, 2006 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) (credit:David Cannon via Getty Images)
(05 of13)
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Golfer Tiger Woods sits courtside with his wife Elin during Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 11, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won 99-91 in overtime and lead the series 3-1.(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (credit:Elsa via Getty Images)
(06 of13)
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Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin Woods, attend the men's final between Roger Federe of Switzerland and Andy Roddick at the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on September 10, 2006 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Matthew Stockman via Getty Images)
(07 of13)
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Tiger Woods, Sam Alexis, Kultida Woods and Elin Nordegren at the dedication of the statue honoring his father Earl Woods at the Tiger Woods Learning Center on January 21, 2008 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage) (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
(08 of13)
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United States Ryder Cup team member Tiger Woods (L) and his partner Elin, leave after attending the opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare, in the Republic of Ireland, 21 September 2006. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images)
(09 of13)
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Tiger Woods of the U.S. Team walks with his wife Elin Woods during the opening ceremonies prior to the start of The Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 26, 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Halleran via Getty Images)
(10 of13)
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Golfer Tiger Woods and girlfriend Elin Nordegren attend the Golf Writers Association of America Awards Dinner April 10, 2002 at the Radisson Hotel in Augusta, GA. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) (credit:David Cannon via Getty Images)
(11 of13)
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Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren, Jimmy Jam and Lisa Harris (Photo by Lester Cohen Archive/WireImage) (credit:L. Cohen via Getty Images)
(12 of13)
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Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren and Teri Hatcher (Photo by L. Cohen/WireImage) (credit:L. Cohen via Getty Images)
(13 of13)
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Golfer Tiger Woods poses with girlfriend Elin Nordegren during the opening Ceremony for the 34th Ryder Cup on September 26, 2002 in Sutton Coldfield, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) (credit:Andrew Redington via Getty Images)
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