Explained: Who is Tiger Woods's ex-girlfriend Erica Herman? Why is she suing star golfer

Tiger Woods's ex-girlfriend Erica Herman has moved the court seeking release from a non-discloure agreement that the star USA golfer allegedly made her sign back in 2017. She filed the lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit in Martin County, Florida.

Herman has been in a relationship with Tiger Woods since 2017 and was living with the 15-time Major winner's mansion in Florida until late 2022.

As per the international news agency AFP, Herman's representative have been claiming that the agreement she signed is "invalid and unenforceable" under US federal legislation. The attorney argued that the Speak Out Act, which was formed last year following the MeToo movement, deems non-disclosure agreements unenforceable in cases involving sexual assault and harassment.

While there was no further details of sexual abuse in the filings made by Hermann's attorney, but in response to a question which reads "Does this case involve allegations of sexual abuse?" It was marked "Yes", further reported AFP.

Herman has also sued the Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust, which is the legal entity that owns Woods's home in Florida, saying that agents duped her into leaving the mansion last year.
"By trickery, agents of the defendant (Woods) convinced the plaintiff (Herman) to pack a suitcase for a short vacation and, when she arrived at the airport, they told her she had been locked out of her residence," the court filing said.

Herman has sued for the damages stating that the act is in violation an "oral tenancy agreement" allowing her to live in the mansion.

Who is Erica Herman?

Erica Herman was first seen with Tiger Woods during the President's Cup in September 2017 and since then were often spotted at the Tour together.

Apart from that, the couple didn't make much public appearances and not much was revealed about their private life either. This was in contrast with Woods's past relationship with Lindsey Vonn and ex-wife Elin, with whom he had a very public marriage.

In 2022, Hermann and Woods were spotted together at the 2022 US Open Grand Slam as they cheered Serena Williams at the stand.

Herman has kept her life private by keeping no social media profile and only appearing in Woods's Instagram at times.

Tiger Woods's previous sex scandal

The fresh sexual abuse allegation comes 14 years after the infamous 2009 sex scandal that almost destroyed his career. It also led to divorce from his first wife Elin Nordegren a year later as it was revealed that Woods cheated on his wife on multiple ocassions.

Rebuilding career with the Masters title in 2019

Tiger Woods's career went downhill from there on with multiple injuries followed by surgeries further hindering his chances of a comeback until he won the Masters in 2019 to be among the news for all good reasons.

2021 brought further setbacks as the golfer was involved in a serious rollover crash. This forced his ouster from teeing for months before making a comeback at the Masters in 2022.