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Who Is Tiger Woods’ Ex-Girlfriend? Meet Erica Herman Amid Her $30 Million Lawsuit Against the Golfer
Tiger Woods (real name Eldrick Tont Woods) hasn’t had as much luck in love as he has on the green, but the world-renowned golfer seemingly met his match when he began dating Erica Herman. After years of dating, and after Tiger’s harrowing rollover car crash in February 2021, the pair called it quits after more than five years of dating. Here’s everything we know about Tiger’s girlfriend.
When Did Tiger and Erica Begin Dating?
Tiger and the Florida native, who is nearly ten years his junior, made their relationship official at the Presidents Cup in September 2017 in Jersey City, New Jersey. There, she was spotted wearing a “player spouse” credential. According to Page Six, Erica first met the athlete while she was an undergrad at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. While at UCF, she studied political science and had aspirations to become a lawyer. To help pay for college, she worked at the Blue Martini, where Tiger was a customer — however, the two didn’t become close until after Erica graduated.
In 2015, the PGA champion opened his own restaurant, The Woods, in Jupiter, Florida, and hired Erica to serve as the general manager, according to Golf.com.
Erica Supported the Golfer’s Career
After their first public appearance, Erica was frequently seen by Tiger’s side at major events and competitions. She even cheered him on from the front row as he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
She also attended the 2019 Masters, where the golfer earned his fifteenth major title and later joined Tiger at the White House, where he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Erica Met Tiger’s Children
Tiger’s children, Charlie, born in February 2009, and Sam, born in June 2007, approved of their father’s relationship, according to People, and Erica also got the seal of approval from the golfer’s ex-wife, Elin Nordegren.
“Elin has a friendly relationship with Erica,” a source told the outlet in January 2019. “Tiger has come a long way and Elin acknowledges that. She is happy that he is dating Erica.”
Tiger and Elin’s six-year-long marriage ended in divorce in 2010.
Tiger and Erica Had Legal Troubles
The couple went through serious ups and downs together but continued to be a united front. In 2019, Tiger and Erica faced a wrongful death lawsuit by the parents of a bartender at The Woods. The 24-year-old bartender was allegedly overserved at the sports bar, which resulted in a fatal crash in December 2018. The case against the former couple was eventually dropped, according to Golf Digest.
Tiger Woods Survived a Scary Car Accident
In February 2021, the pair faced another terrifying ordeal when Tiger was involved in a car crash. The 15-time major champion’s SUV rolled over and the “jaws of life” were used to remove the golfer from the vehicle. The accident resulted in “significant” injuries.
“Erica dropped everything to be with Tiger the moment she heard what happened,” a source told Us Weekly in March 2021. “She’s been by his bedside, holding his hand and telling him everything’s going to be OK. He’s a champ and he’s got this.”
The insider added that her support “meant the world” to Tiger. He later revealed revealed to Golf Digest, in an interview released in November 2021, that due to the crash, he will never return to golf “full time ever again.”
“It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality,” he said. “And I understand it, and I accept it.”
Erica Filed a Lawsuit Against Tiger
In October 2022, Erica filed a complaint against Tiger’s homestead trust claiming he was in violation of the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act. According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Erica claimed that she and the athlete were living together in his Hobe Sound, Florida, home for the duration of their relationship where she performed “valuable services” in order to live in his home rent-free.
She went on to allege that they had an “oral tenancy agreement” which allowed her to continue living in the home for five more years.
Erica is claiming damages of more than $30 million. The Trust responded to her claims, asking for the dispute to be settled in private, citing that the former couple’s non-disclosure agreement requires “any and all disputes, claims or controversies … of any kind or nature whatsoever” to be “resolved by confidential binding arbitration.”
In March 2023, In Touch confirmed that Erica requested a court to nullify the NDA Tiger made her sign when they began dating in August 2017.
According to Erica, the NDA should be unenforceable under the Speak Out Act, which allows for exemptions to made when there is evidence of sexual assault or harassment.
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