Tiger Woods’ love life has been a hot topic for years, and his current relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., is no exception. But before Vanessa, there was Rachel Uchitel, the woman at the center of Woods’ infamous cheating scandal in 2009.
Uchitel and Woods had a long-term affair while he was still married to Elin Nordegren, whom he wed in 2004. The two were introduced by none other than ex-Yankees icon Derek Jeter, and their affair made national headlines.
Getty Images
Fast-forward to the present, and Woods is now dating Vanessa Trump, a woman with her own impressive history of high-profile relationships. She’s been linked to everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio to a Saudi prince, and was even married to Donald Trump Jr. for 13 years.
Woods recently made his relationship with Vanessa Instagram-official, but the announcement was met with some raised eyebrows due to his unusual request for privacy.
Interestingly, the 50-year-old infamous celebrity, known for her high-profile affair with Woods, announced her engagement to Dan Donovan just five days later.
She took it to Instagram, flaunting her dazzling 10.25-carat diamond ring with the caption, “So this happened.. (with a ring emoji)”.
Donovan, who is an entrepreneur, shared the post with his own romantic message: “She brings me to my knee!” and “Something shiny for the most amazing woman!!”
But what makes this love story even sweeter is the special bond Donovan shares with Uchitel’s 12-year-old daughter. The young girl even helped Donovan pick out the stunning engagement ring before he proposed to Uchitel on March 28th.
After the proposal, Uchitel’s daughter gave Donovan her seal of approval, saying, “He did well!” as reported by Page Six.
Uchitel herself couldn’t help but gush about her fiancé, sharing, “I feel super lucky to be loved by him. He’s the most amazing man.”
As Rachel Uchitel basks in the joy of her engagement to Donovan, it’s hard not to look back at her past and the scandal that made headlines around the world.
The 2009 Tiger Woods cheating scandal
The scandal, which broke in 2009, revealed that Woods had been carrying on multiple affairs, including with Uchitel, while married to his then-wife Elin Nordegren. The news sparked a media frenzy, with Woods’ reputation taking a severe hit.
In January 2021, around the premiere of the Tiger documentary on HBO, Rachel Uchitel broke her silence about the affair. In an interview with Extra, she revealed the personal toll the scandal had taken on her life.
“The whole thing has made my life a living hell for the last 10 years,” she confessed, per New York Post.
Uchitel’s decision to speak out was driven by a desire to set the record straight. “I want people to see what really happened” between her and Woods, she explained.
“I was not a mistress, and I was in a real relationship, and I want people to leave me alone about it.” Uchitel acknowledged, “I made a bad decision. And I regret it, and I’m embarrassed about it…”
She emphasized, “My apology is to two people, not the world, two people.”
Apart from the 15-time major champion, she has also dated James Andrew O’Grady, with whom she also got engaged. O’Grady was killed during the 9/11 attack, after which Uchitel caught public’s eye.
In 2004, she tied the knot with Steven Ehrenkranz, a Wall Street trader and childhood friend.
She also admitted to having an affair with actor David Boreanaz in 2010. Clearly, the Woods affair was not the only marriage she was willing to gamble with.
Uchitel’s last marriage was to Matt Hahn, a former Penn State fullback, but their union was short-lived. Hahn filed for divorce from Uchitel in 2013, marking the end of their relationship.
More Golf: Paige Spiranac Details ‘Sexual Favor’ Rumor, Reveals Suicidal Thoughts