I was in one of the biggest sex scandals of all time… I fear my affair with Tiger Woods will follow me to the grave
RACHEL UCHITEL claims that her infamous affair with Tiger Woods will follow her to “the grave”.
Uchitel, 49, met the iconic golfer in Las Vegas 16 years ago after being introduced by mutual friend Derek Jeter.
Woods, 48, had been married to Swedish model Elin Nordegren since 2004.
But soon after meeting Rachel the duo began an affair, which dramatically came to light in 2009.
After Rachel had been photographed checking into Woods’ hotel during the Australian Masters that year, Elin began digging into her husband’s behaviour.
When the Swedish model discovered Woods’ infidelity, she famously chased him out of their home while clutching a golf club.
It later emerged that Woods had cheated on Elin with more than 120 women.
Despite the number of other affairs that Woods engaged in, Rachel feels that theirs has particularly continued to follow her around.
She told the Mail: “When you are in a conversation piece that big that everyone wants to talk about, it’s going to go to your grave.
“Well, it’s, it’s affected my relationships, I have a very small world, I keep it that way.
Tiger Woods' high-profile relationships
The golf icon has dated a number of different women
Tiger Woods was famously married to Swedish model Elin Nordegren between 2004 and 2010.
Together they had two children; daughter Sam Alexis, 16, and son Charlie, 15.
The pair were involved in a messy $100m (£80m) divorce after Elin caught wind of Woods’ affair with Rachel Uchitel in 2009 – with it later emerging that the golf icon had at least 120 affairs during his marriage.
Following his split with Elin, Woods went on to date skier Lindsey Vonn between 2013 and 2015.
He was then reportedly in a relationship with stylist Kristin Smith between 2016 and 2017.
Woods began a five-year relationship with restaurant manager Erica Herman after his split with Vonn – although they went on to break up in 2022.
“I don’t really trust a lot of people because what I’ve been through is something that a lot of people cannot understand.”
Woods has two children with Elin; daughter Sam Alexis, 16, and son Charlie, 15.
Rachel, meanwhile, had already experienced her fair share of heartache before she met Woods.
She lost her father, Bob, to a drug overdose when she was just 15.
Then, aged 26, she lost her fiance James O’Grady – after he was tragically killed in 9/11.
I lost my fiance from being killed by terrorists on 9/11 and I was in one of the biggest sex scandals of all time
Rachel Uchitel
On how her experiences have affected her outlook, she continued: “I lost my father when I was young in a tragic way.
“I lost my fiance from being killed by terrorists on 9/11 and I was in one of the biggest sex scandals of all time.
“There is nothing ordinary about me, so I have to date extraordinary men. And I haven’t really found that.
“So, I am open, I want to have a witness to my life. I want to be married. I want to be in a relationship.
“I haven’t found that right match for me yet. And I’m always hopeful that I will, every morning when I get up. I’m like, I’ll meet him today.”
Last year, Rachel launched her “Miss Understood” podcast – which she claims acts as an outlet for “misunderstood” people to put forward their sides of the story.
Woods, meanwhile, went on split with Elin in a $100million (£80m) divorce in 2010.
He then dated skier Lindsey Vonn between 2013 and 2015, before reportedly going out with stylist Kristin Smith from 2016 to 2017.
The American began a relationship with restaurant manager Erica Herman in 2017, with the duo eventually splitting in 2022.
Woods is set to launch his 2024 Masters campaign later today.
It will be just his second event of the year, as he continues to recover from ankle surgery.