Tiger Woods‘s personal life has been at the centre of intense media attention over the years.
While the golfing icon has experienced sporting success, his personal life has been far more complicated. The affairs that surfaced during his marriage to Elin Nordegren, followed by claims of sexual misconduct, took a toll on Woods’ career, but his personal life has settled down since.
In the wake of his single-car crash, in 2021, one of his former flames Rachel Uchitel admitted to being “shaken” by the news.
Woods is on his sixth tournament since his accident, when asked how he was feeling, he explained, “If you ask me right now, I’m a little bit sore”.
Let’s take a closer look at Woods’ most high-profile relationships.
Erica Herman
Woods, 47, had dated Erica Herman, 39, for the past six years, before splitting in March of this year. The couple met when Herman was serving him at one of his restaurants.
In September 2017, they debuted their relationship at the Presidents Cup in New Jersey.
At the prestigious event, she wore a badge that’s typically reserved for the girlfriends and wives of players.
“They live together at his house now,” a source told People in 2021. “The kids like her.”
Herman supported the golfer when he won the 2019 Masters and when Woods was recovering from his car accident.
The golfer’s daughter Sam confirmed this sentiment in 2022 when introducing her father during his induction ceremony into the World Golf Hall of Fame. She references their strong family bond, in which Herman was included.
“Through thick and thin, you, Charlie, Erica, [grandmother Kultida Woods] and I will always be a team,” she said.
However, trouble in paradise was brewing and by March 2023, news broke of their separation, when Herman filed a lawsuit against Woods that requested she be removed from a non-disclosure agreement signed in 2017. Arguing NDAs to be null and void in cases of alleged sexual assault or harassment, she cited the Speak Out Act.
Herman claimed that whilst working at his Florida restaurant, he sexually harassed her, forcing her to sign an NDA to maintain her employment.
Just two months later, the request was dismissed, with the judge ordering the dispute to be kept private in future, per the agreement.
The sexual assault allegations and NDA appeal were dropped by Herman in November 2023.
Lindsey Vonn
Woods started dating Lindsey Vonn when they met at a charity event in 2012.
He made multiple appearances with the professional skier, but their relationship fizzled out in 2015.
“After nearly three years together, Tiger and I have mutually decided to end our relationship,” Vonn said in a statement at the time.
“I will always cherish the memories that we’ve created together. Unfortunately, we both lead incredibly hectic lives that force us to spend the majority of our time apart. I will always admire and respect Tiger. He and his beautiful family will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Since news of Woods’ crash, Vonn has publicly spoken out, tweeting, “Praying for TW right now.”
https://twitter.com/lindseyvonn/status/1364304636803313666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Rachel Uchitel
Rachel Uchitel was one of Woods’ mistresses when he was married to Elin Nordegren.
Uchitel’s affair with Woods was exposed in 2009 while the sportsman was still married to Nordegren.
The 48-year-old has claimed to be vilified for the affair and believed the public wanted an apology from her.
READ MORE: Tiger Woods’ former mistress Rachel Uchitel: ‘The public was so angry with me’
“I spent 10 years having a lot of the media be very snarky in the way that they write about me, the public be very angry in the way they speak about me and the way that they perceive me, and I have felt like they have wanted an apology from me,” she told New England Cable News’s Derek Zagami.
Since news of Woods’ car crash, Uchitel issued a statement and sent her well wishes to the golfer.
“Obviously, I’m shaken to see this,” Uchitel told E! News.
“I’m really hoping he walks out of there OK. Knowing Tiger, this is the last thing he wants, the entire world watching him this way. On the golf course, yes, but not like this.”
Uchitel is now the mother of a daughter she welcomed in 2012.
Elin Nordegren
Woods first met Elin Nordegren, now 43, in 2001. She was working as a nanny for golfer Jesper Parnevik when they were introduced at a golf tournament.
They struck up a romance and were engaged in November 2003. They married the following year at a resort in Barbados.
The exes welcomed two children together, Charlie, 12, and 13-year-old daughter Sam.
Their relationship famously went south in 2009 when over a dozen women came forward, claiming to have had sexual relations with Woods.
Two days after news of the infidelities went public, Woods was in a single-vehicle accident near their home in Florida. He later took responsibility for the crash and apologised for the affairs.
Woods and Nordegren divorced in 2010.
She reportedly walked away with over US$100 million (approx. $125 million) in the divorce. In the aftermath of their split, Woods struggled to return to form when lucrative sponsors fell away.
READ MORE: What is Tiger Woods’ net worth?
After many years of silence, Nordegren eventually opened up about how she learned of the affairs.
“I never suspected, not a one,” she told People. “I wish him all the best in the future, as a person and as an athlete. I know he is going to go down as the best golfer that’s ever lived, and rightfully so.”
And the former couple has continued to keep things on friendly terms.
“Elin put her own feelings aside to make sure the kids have a great relationship with their dad,” a source recently told People in January 2021. “They do a great job of co-parenting.”
Woods has also spoken positively of his relationship with his ex-wife.
“[Elin] is one of my best friends. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time. We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids. I wish I would have known that back then,” he told TIME in 2015.
In April of this year, Woods shared a photo with his two children on Instagram, writing, “Masters Champions Dinner quarantine style. Nothing better than being with family.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-suPm5jPgA/