Tiger Woods is 50. Honestly, just saying that feels weird. The guy who redefined golf just hit the half-century mark, and while his back might be fused and his gait a little slower, his personal life is arguably the most stable it’s been since the early 2000s. If you’re looking for the name of the Tiger Woods girlfriend now, it’s Vanessa Trump.
Yes, that Vanessa Trump. The former daughter-in-law of Donald Trump and ex-wife of Don Jr.
It’s the kind of pairing that sounds like a Mad Libs result until you actually look at their lives in Jupiter, Florida. They aren’t just two famous people crossing paths at a gala. They are "golf parents" who found each other in the trenches of junior tournaments.
The School Run Romance
Forget the red carpets. The real story of how Tiger and Vanessa became an item started at The Benjamin School.
Vanessa’s daughter, Kai Trump, is a standout golfer (she recently committed to the University of Miami). Tiger’s son, Charlie, is... well, he’s Charlie Woods. They go to the same school. They play the same tournaments. While the rest of the world sees a political firebrand’s ex and a global sports icon, other parents just saw two people in folding chairs by the 18th green.
They reportedly started "quietly" seeing each other around November 2024. They kept it under wraps for months. No flashy Instagram posts. No "leaked" paparazzi shots. Just two people hanging out at home on Jupiter Island, probably talking about swing speeds and college recruitment.
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Tiger finally went public in March 2025. He posted a photo of them in a hammock with a caption that was surprisingly soft for him: "Love is in the air, and life is better with you by my side."
Why This Relationship is Actually Different
Look, we’ve seen the Tiger Woods dating cycle before. There was the chaotic end with Elin Nordegren. There was the high-profile, high-octane relationship with Lindsey Vonn. Then there was Erica Herman, which ended in a messy $30 million lawsuit that wasn’t fully resolved until Herman dropped it in late 2023.
Vanessa seems to occupy a different space. For one, she’s not starstruck. You don’t marry into the Trump family if you’re intimidated by fame or flashbulbs. She’s lived in the center of a global media circus for nearly two decades.
An insider recently told the Daily Mail that Vanessa is the "closest thing to a soulmate" Tiger has had since Elin. That’s a heavy statement. But it makes sense when you consider their daily lives. They live 20 minutes apart. They share five children between them (Vanessa has five from her marriage to Don Jr.). Their lives were already mirrored before they ever went on a first date.
The "Elin Approval" Factor
One of the most telling signs of how serious this is? Tiger actually told Elin about Vanessa before the news hit the tabloids.
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According to reports, Elin’s initial reaction was basically, "A Trump? Really?" It’s a fair question given the politics. But Elin and Tiger have become "best friends" while co-parenting Sam and Charlie. If Elin is cool with Vanessa being around the kids—which she apparently is, given they’ve been spotted at the same tournaments—that’s the ultimate green light.
Vanessa Trump: More Than a Last Name
If you only know her from political headlines, you’re missing the context. Born Vanessa Kay Pergolizzi, she was a high-fashion model with Wilhelmina in the 90s. She’s got a bit of a "wild" history that rivals Tiger’s own colorful past.
- She dated Leonardo DiCaprio in 1998.
- She had a long-term relationship with a Saudi prince.
- She even had a brief acting stint (check her out in the 2003 flick Something's Gotta Give).
She’s 48 now, and by all accounts, she’s the one grounding Tiger as he navigates the end of his competitive career. At his 50th birthday bash in early 2026—the "RED Legacy" event—she was right there in a strapless black dress, looking every bit the partner of a man who is finally comfortable in his own skin.
The Legal Ghost of Erica Herman
You can't talk about the Tiger Woods girlfriend now without acknowledging the person who came before. The transition from Erica Herman to Vanessa Trump wasn't just a change in partners; it was a change in legal status.
Erica Herman was the general manager of Tiger's restaurant, The Woods Jupiter. Their split was ugly. She tried to sue his homestead trust for $30 million, claiming she was "tricked" into leaving the house. She even tried to nullify an NDA by citing sexual harassment laws.
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It was a mess. But in November 2023, she dropped everything. She explicitly stated she was "never a victim of sexual harassment or sexual abuse." It cleared the deck for Tiger. He went from being a man under legal siege to a man who could actually date publicly again without a cloud over his head.
What’s Next for the Couple?
Are there wedding bells in the future? People are already whispering about it.
Tiger hasn't been married since 2010. He’s been gun-shy, and honestly, who can blame him? But insiders say this relationship is "really, really serious."
Vanessa has been the one by his side through his most recent back surgery recovery. She was there when Kai made her LPGA debut at The Annika in late 2025. She’s become a fixture in the "Team Tiger" inner circle, which is notoriously hard to break into.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Story
If you're keeping tabs on Tiger’s new chapter, watch these specific spaces:
- Junior Golf Leaderboards: You’re more likely to see a "candid" shot of the couple at a Benjamin School match than at a Hollywood premiere.
- TGL Matches: Vanessa and Kai have already been spotted at Tiger’s new tech-infused golf league events.
- Jupiter Island Real Estate: Rumors are swirling about whether Vanessa will eventually move into Tiger’s $54 million mansion or if they’ll keep their separate "home bases" for the sake of their eight combined children.
Tiger Woods at 50 is a different man than Tiger at 25. He’s not just chasing Jack Nicklaus’s records anymore; he’s chasing a quiet life. With Vanessa Trump, it looks like he might have finally found the person who understands the noise well enough to help him shut it out.