Tiger Woods Appeared In Magazine To Avoid Leaked Pictures With His Mistress

Of all places for a not-so-flattering story on Tiger Woods to come to light, a Donald Trump trial might have been last on the list.

Yet that's exactly what happened, thanks to the head of the National Enquirer, David Pecker. Pecker took the stand during the Trump hush money trial in New York and, according to the New York Post, admitted that he helped cover up a story on Woods back in 2007.

Woods apparently had been caught in an affair with his then-mistress Mindy Lawton, with photos being taken of the two in Woods' Cadillac Escalade. Pecker admitted under cross-examination that he had bought the photos, then approached Tiger about making a deal to avoid publishing them. 

Sure enough, soon afterwards, Woods appeared on the cover of Men's Health,  another magazine title under the American Media Inc. parent company umbrella. Woods also consented to a 12-page long story inside, a lengthy, in-depth article for the usually private Woods.

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Tiger Woods walks to the green after playing his second shot on the first hole during the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Tiger Woods Essentially Blackmailed Into Men's Fitness Appearance

The Post spoke to a source described as part of his "inner circle," who said that Woods was essentially forced into agreeing to the interview.

"It was a total shakedown," the source told The Post. "He was totally blackmailed, but what could he do? He had to play ball. He didn’t have any other choice."

The photos were taken during the final few months of Woods' marriage to then-wife Elin Nordegren and looking to avoid a scandal, Woods played ball.

Pecker denied doing a quid-pro-quo at the time, when his Men's Health editor quit after learning that Woods had been forced into it. Even still, the Enquirer did run a story on another one of Woods' mistresses a few years later. 

There were, of course, dozens more stories of Woods' infidelity to come later on. But the first one was buried entirely because of essentially media blackmail. Sounds right.

The 48-year-old Woods just competed in The Masters earlier this month, finishing all four rounds in a welcome sign for his health moving forward. And given his recovery from multiple surgeries, maybe he's a better fit for Men's Health now than he was in 2007.