Rachel Uchitel, the woman whose affair with golf legend Tiger Woods precipitated his sensational $100 million divorce, is set to marry millionaire CEO Dan Donovan this Wednesday in Palm Beach, Florida. The location is notably close to the upmarket Jupiter area where Woods now resides with his new girlfriend, Vanessa Trump.
A Lavish Celebration Close to Old Scars
The three-day wedding festivities, unfolding over the New Year period, are taking place at several luxurious venues across Palm Beach. Uchitel has been sharing glimpses of the lavish preparations on her Instagram, with guests also posting behind-the-scenes content. The choice of location is striking, situated not far from the homes of both Tiger Woods and his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, who also lives in Palm Beach County.
The wedding comes just a day after Tiger Woods celebrated his 50th birthday. The proximity adds another layer to the complex web of connections in this affluent Floridian enclave. Both Woods and Nordegren's son, Charlie, and Vanessa Trump's daughter, Kai (granddaughter of Donald Trump), attend the prestigious Benjamin School in North Palm Beach.
The 2009 Scandal That Rocked Golf
Rachel Uchitel was thrust into the global spotlight in November 2009 when her affair with Woods was exposed. The pair had met through mutual friend Derek Jeter in Las Vegas in 2008. The scandal erupted after photos surfaced of Uchitel checking into the same hotel as Woods during the Australian Masters, published by the National Enquirer.
Initially, Uchitel denied the affair to Elin Nordegren. However, Nordegren's suspicions were aroused, leading her to search Woods's phone. She discovered contact details for another woman, Jaimee Grubbs, and left a furious voicemail. A second search revealed a damning text message from Woods to Uchitel that read: 'You are the only one I've ever loved.' When Uchitel replied, Nordegren called her directly, stating: 'I knew it was you. I know everything.'
The confrontation escalated, with a fleeing Woods crashing his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree after Nordegren pursued him with a golf club. The incident left him unconscious and bloody in the street. In the fallout, Woods ultimately admitted to cheating on his wife with more than 120 women, leading to his divorce from Nordegren in 2010 after six years of marriage.
Moving On: New Beginnings in Palm Beach
In a 2024 interview, Uchitel expressed her fear that the affair would follow her 'to the grave' and detailed the lasting damage to her ability to trust. She moved to Palm Beach in December 2022 for a fresh start, purchasing a $2.59 million home. It was here she met Dan Donovan on the dating app Bumble, describing him as a successful 'alpha male without being a narcissist' and the founder of four companies.
Uchitel has been married twice before: first to Wall Street trader Steven Ehrenkranz for four months in 2004, and then to former football player Matt Hahn, with whom she co-parents a daughter. She was also previously engaged to James Andrew O'Grady, who died in the September 11 attacks.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods appears to have found new stability with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., with whom she shares two children. The intersecting lives of these figures continue to weave a compelling narrative of scandal, consequence, and attempted redemption in the sun-drenched setting of Florida's most exclusive zip codes.
