Tiger Woods Denies Making Oral Agreement With Ex-Girlfriend To Live In His Home

Benjamin Imiewanlan
Tiger Woods and Erica Herman cheer on Rafael Nadal at 2019 US Open in New York City.
Getty | Gotham

Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time, has yet again involved himself in another public scrutiny. This time, the highly awarded athlete is being sued by his ex-girlfriend, Erica Herman, over an alleged oral agreement.

No Oral Agreement

Tiger Woods and his girlfriend Erica Herman in Serena Williams player's box during Day 3 of the US Open 2022
Getty | Jean Catuffe

Herman claims that her and Woods made an oral tenancy agreement of 11 years at the start of their relationship. However, the golfing legend is denying it, saying no such agreement exists.

Tricked

She has sued Tiger Woods for kicking her out of the Florida home they lived in together. In her lawsuit, she claims he tricked her into getting her out of the house.

A Vacation Trip

Vacation mode
Giphy

Following Herman's claims during her lawsuit, she states that his representatives told her to pack for a holiday (vacation), and upon reaching the airport, she was informed she had been sent out of the £41 million home.

$30 Million Lawsuit

Her lawsuit against the professional golfer claims Woods is in "breaches of duty," which left her in severe emotional ruin. Now she is suing him for $30 million in damages.

Rumors Of Fear

Tiger Woods disappointed
Giphy | ATP Tour

Sources close to the pro golfer claim that he is apparently "terrified" of the lawsuit filed against him. The insider also reveals his fear is due to his concerns about "another scandal" rocking his public image and career.

5 More Years Left

Please Sir, may I have some more?
Giphy

Written in the papers filed by Ms. Herman in October 2022, she stated there remains a tenancy period of five years for her at the Florida residence. She claims they have lived together for six years since the start of their relationship in 2017, and five years are left to complete the oral agreement of 11 years.

Valuable Services

Herman also stated that during the course of their relationship and as part of their "oral tenancy agreement," she provided "valuable services" to Woods — which have not been disclosed.

Guest At The Residence

Court Document From Tiger Woods' Lawyers
Dailymail | Circuit Court Martin County, Florida

According to the legal documents presented by Woods' lawyers, Erica Herman is referred to as a guest at the residence, not a tenant.

"During their relationship, Mr. Woods invited Ms. Herman to live with him as his guest in the Residence. Mr. Woods never negotiated an oral tenancy agreement with Ms. Herman. Nor was there ever a written tenancy agreement between Mr. Woods or the Trust, on the one hand, and Ms. Herman, on the other hand. Mr. Woods never transferred to Ms. Herman any ownership interest in or rights of possession to the Residence."

Residents At The Home

Tiger Woods home in Florida
Dailymail | Splashnews

Aside from Tiger Woods and Erica Herman, the golfer's children are known residents of the Florida home. In one claim from Woods' lawyers, they referred to allowing Herman to stay at the Florida home to be "directly adverse" to the well-being of the golfer's children.

Another Provided Residence

Woods' lawyers have also stated that upon being locked out of the Florida home, Ms. Herman was provided with a stay at a luxury resort. The plaintiff was also given an undisclosed sum of money to apply for a new residence.

The Money Claim

Tiger Woods (L) and girlfriend Erica Herman (R) follow the players during the third day of the Presidents Cup golf tournament in Melbourne
Getty | WILLIAM WEST

In another claim by Ms. Herman, she alleged that representatives to Mr. Woods made "scurrilous and defamatory allegations" after removing $40,000 of her money.

Fight Against The Trust

Tiger Woods writing on a paper
instagram | tigerwoods

The lawsuit filed by Ms. Herman is suing Woods' trust, Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust, and not Tiger Woods himself. 

Bypass The NDA

The defendant's lawyer refers to it as "nothing more than a transparent attempt by Ms. Herman to avoid her contractual obligation to arbitrate and to gain leverage by litigating her disputes with Mr. Woods in a public forum."

In simpler terms, Ms. Herman is trying to bypass a binding non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed in 2017 at the start of her relationship with Woods.

The Speak Out Act

Erica Herman's Lawsuit on sexual assault
Dailymail | County Court of Florida

In a different lawsuit, Erica Herman has filed a sexual assault/harassment case against Woods. In the court documents submitted by Ms. Herman, she checked "Yes" to the box asking, "Does this case involve allegations of sexual abuse?" — no further details about the allegations were provided by her.

Void The Agreement

Following Herman's sexual assault lawsuit, as reported by TMZ, she is challenging the NDA signed by herself to deem it unenforceable. The NDA can be ruled as useless by federal laws that void NDAs if there are issues related to sexual assault or harassment.

Aggressive Enforcement

Tiger Woods standing and blinking his eyes
Giphy | Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

A private trust run by the 47-year-old pro golfer is reportedly trying to "aggressively enforce" the signed NDA, preventing it from being nullified by federal law.

How They Met

The pair at loggerheads were first spotted together in 2017 at the Presidents Cup in New Jersey. At the time, Erica Herman worked as the manager at a restaurant, a pop-up at the Genesis Open at The Riviera Country Club in L.A., when Woods returned to competitive golfing since the previous British Open.

Last Public Sighting

Erica Herman and Tiger Woods look on prior to the Women's Singles Second Round match between Anett Kontaveit of Estonia and Serena Williams of the United States on Day Three of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Getty | Matthew Stockman

Two months before their separation in October 2017, Tiger Woods and Erica Herman were last seen together at the U.S. Open tennis in Australia.

When They Ended Things

Tiger Woods, winner of the TOUR Championship with his girlfriend, Erica Herman after the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club
Getty | Stan Badz

Going by the statement made by Woods' lawyers, the pair finalized their breakup on October 13, 2022. In response to their split, Ms. Herman began her lawsuit against Tiger Woods.