Tiger Woods’ girlfriend Erica Herman has requested to be removed from a non-disclosure agreement she claims the 15-time major champion made her sign when their relationship started.
ESPN have reported that, as per a civil complaint filed on Monday in a circuit court in Martin County, Florida, Herman believes the NDA was “invalid and unenforceable” and a trust controlled by Woods is wrongfully using it against her.
Herman’s attorney has cited the Speak Out Act which prevents the use of an NDA in cases of sexual assault and harassment. She has been in a relationship with Woods since August 2017.
In a civil cover sheet to the court, her attorney, Benjamin Hodas, signalled that the case included allegations of sexual abuse, but they might not necessarily involve Woods.
Herman, who has often accompanied Woods at PGA Tour events and major championships in recent years, hasn’t made any allegations against her partner as such. The pair have now reportedly separated.
“This uncertainty is acute and important,” Herman’s complaint read. “Because of the aggressive use of the Woods NDA against her by the defendant and the trust under his control, the plaintiff is unsure whether she may disclose, among other things, facts giving rise to various legal claims she believes she has.
“She is also currently unsure what other information about her own life she may discuss or with whom. There is therefore an active dispute between the plaintiff and the defendant for which the plaintiff needs a clarifying declaration from the court.”
Her attorney has alleged that Woods is enforcing the NDA to conceal details of their relationship.
The judge could agree with the enforcement, in which case Herman’s attorney would ask how this limits what information she can disclose regarding “her own experiences, experiences of her family members, photographs and recordings of herself and her family members, information from sources other than the defendant” and “information responding to statements that the defendant has made or published about her or others to prove the falsity or misleading nature of those statements”.
Woods was last photographed with Herman at Flushing Meadows in August 2022, as the pair supported the legendary tennis star Serena Williams playing in the US Open.
The 47-year-old, who had two children with his ex-wife Elin Nordegren, last played at the Genesis Invitational, a tournament that is hosted by his charity foundation.
After appearing absent from the Players Championship entry list, the Masters will likely be Woods’ next appearance on the PGA Tour.
He is still unable to play a full schedule due to the injuries he sustained in a car crash over two years ago.
