Photo: Stan Badz/PGA TOUR
The couple remained very private over the years (a notable difference from Woods’previous relationshipwithLindsey Vonnand his very public marriage anddivorcefromElin Nordegren). They wererarely seen out in publicat non-golf events, but they did attend the2022 US Opentogether to supportSerena Williamsfrom the stands. Herman has no social media presence either and only appeared on Woods’Instagramthree times since October 2017.
So, who is Woods' ex-girlfriend? From her restaurant beginnings to her lawsuits against the golfer, here’s everything to know about Erica Herman.
They were together for five years
Tiger Woods Instagram
Woods and Herman first stepped out as a couple in September 2017, when she attended the President’s Cup with Woods while wearing a “player spouse” credential — which is generally reserved for the spouses or significant others of the event’s players and captains. In addition to joining Woods on the course during the tournament, Herman was spotted attending the opening ceremonies with the U.S. team’s wives and girlfriends, according toGolf.com.
One month later, the couple made things Instagram official when Woodsshared a photoof the two at Dodger Stadium for a World Series game. The photo posted on the golfer’s Instagram showed Woods and Herman sporting matching Dodgers jerseys, though Woods did not name or tag his significant other in the post.
“No one has signed any paperwork,” a friend of Woodstold PEOPLEin 2018 about the couple. “It’s not like they’re pledging their lives to each other. But she’s really nice and Tiger likes her.”
“Tiger doesn’t like to be alone,” the friend added. “But he doesn’t like to settle. Not anymore. So when he’s with someone, he really needs to be into her.”
Herman latermoved intoWoods' Jupiter, Florida mansion. “They live together at his house now,” a source close to the golfer told PEOPLE in December 2021.
She’s a native of Florida
Richard Heathcote/Getty
Living with Woods isn’t what drew Herman to Florida, though — she’s lived in the Sunshine State since childhood. According to thePalm Beach Post, Herman grew up in Palm Beach County, attending Santaluces High School in the early 2000s, where she was a member of the school’s cheerleading team.
Herman stayed in her home state for college as well, attending both Palm Beach State College and the University of Central Florida. She graduated from UCF in May 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, as Heather Smith, assistant director of media relations at UCF, told thePalm Beach Post.
She previously worked in the restaurant industry
Rob Carr/Getty
Though Herman’s degree is in legal studies, the majority of her career was spent in the restaurant industry. While attending UCF in Orlando, Herman first worked as a bartender and was eventually named VIP manager at the Blue Martini lounge, her former co-worker toldPage Six.
According to court records, in 2010 Herman also had ambitions to open a string of nightclubs in Florida with two business partners and a local investor — an endeavor that ultimately failed. She eventually became thegeneral manager of Tiger Woods' flagship restaurantThe Woods Jupiter, which opened at Florida’s Harbourside Place in August 2015. It was there that Herman began working directly with Woods, former restaurant employee Luke Copeland toldPage Six.
She supported Woods' golf career
Warren Little/Getty
Since her first appearance with Woods at the 2017 President’s Cup, Herman became a mainstay on the golf course when Woods was competing.
When Woodswon the 2018 Tour Championship— his first victory in five years and 80th PGA title — Herman was waiting at the 18th hole to greet him with a celebratory hug and kiss. “Love you,” Woods was heard saying to Herman as she wrapped her arms around him.
In 2019, when Woodswon the Masters, Herman was one of the first to congratulate him — along with his kids and mother — as he claimed his fifth green jacket. Later that same year, when Woods led his team to a President’s Cup victory, he held back tears as Hermanran to embrace himfollowing the win. The two shared a long hug and walked away arm-in-arm.
But Herman wasn’t just there for Woods' victories; she supported him at tournaments around the world, regardless of the outcome. The coupleshared a kissfollowing the 2018 PGA Championship and were hand-in-hand at the opening ceremonies of the2018 Ryder Cupin France. Herman also cheered Woods on at the 2022 Masters — his first tournament appearance since the February 2021 car crash that left him with multiple injuries.
“It’s miraculous,” Herman toldGolf.comabout Woods' Masters appearance. “It shouldn’t be happening.”
She added, “I mean, nothing ever surprises me about him. But he’d just worked so hard to be here, that was the one thing I knew: once he got here, he wasn’t going to go home.”
She got along well with Woods' ex-wife and children
Chris Condon/PGA TOUR via Getty
When it comes to Woods' ex-wife Nordegren and Herman, there was no bad blood. “Elin has a friendly relationship with Erica,” a source toldPEOPLE. “Tiger has come a long way and Elin acknowledges that. She is happy that he is dating Erica.”
Herman was also close with Woods' two children that he shares with Nordegren. The trio were often seen in the crowd at Woods' tournaments together, even donningmatching outfitsat the 2017 Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “The kids like her,” the same source previously shared with PEOPLE.
Woods' daughter Sam echoed that sentiment when sheintroduced her fatherat his 2022 induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In her heartfelt speech, she referred to their strong bond as a family unit — including Herman.
“Through thick and thin, you, Charlie, Erica, [grandmother Kultida Woods] and I will always be a team,” she said.
She helped Woods recover from his February 2021 car crash
Con Chronis/PGA TOUR via Getty
Woods faced an uphill road to recovery after his carstruck a center dividerand was in arollover accidenton Feb. 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. He sustained “multiple leg injuries” from the crash that required surgery, according to his agent Mark Steinberg, including fractures to his right tibia and fibula bones, andadditional injuriesin his foot and ankle.
The accident left Woods unsure if he wouldwalk againor lose his right leg — let alone golf. But Herman, who was photographed at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center the day following his accident, was a key part of his recovery, Woods shared in an interview withGolf Digest.
“I wanted to test and see if I still had my hands. So even in the hospital, I would have [girlfriend Erica Herman] and [friend] Rob [McNamara] throw me something,” Woods said. “Throw me anything.”
After months of rehab, which Woodsdescribedas “more painful than anything I have ever experienced,” he returned to golf — playing in the PNC Championship in December 2021 with his son. Cheering from the sidelines was Herman, along with Woods' daughter and Nordegren.
She filed two lawsuits against Woods
In March 2023, news broke that the pair had split whenHerman filed a lawsuit against Woods, asking to be removed from a non-disclosure agreement she signed in August 2017, when the two began dating. She cited the Speak Out Act, which allows NDAs to be nullified in cases of sexual assault or harassment.
Two months later, ajudge denied Herman’s request— ordering that the dispute between the exes be kept private, per the agreement of their NDA, and the case taken to arbitration. Hermandropped her NDA appealand sexual assault allegations in November 2023.
Herman’s March 2023 lawsuit was directly related to the lawsuit she filed against Woods' trust, Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust, in October 2022.
After the trust’s employees “locked her out of the residence, removed her personal belongings, and informed her she could not return,” Hermanclaimed that she was owed $30 million. Per court documents, she sued for consequential monetary damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys' fees under the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act.
Shortly after Herman’s lawsuits went public, a source told PEOPLE that Woods felt like he was in a “nightmare” and desperately wanted to avoid “another scandal.”
In June 2023,Herman droppedthe illegal eviction lawsuit.
She claimed Woods orchestrated a fake vacation “scheme” to break up with her
“While still in the [airplane] hangar, ‘Ray Donovan (a fictional character) with a pen’ proceeded to insult Ms. Herman, (advised) her she had no legal rights and (tried) to force her to agree to a (different) non-disclosure and arbitration agreement,” the documents stated.
source: people.com
