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'I love you': The woman behind Tiger Woods' incredible comeback

Erica Herman is being hailed as Tiger Woods’ ‘saviour’ after the golfing great broke an 11-year major drought at the Masters.

Tiger completed one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history with a come-from-behind win at Augusta National on Sunday.

The deafening roars at Augusta were cathartic for fans who feared they would never see Woods win another major after years of career-threatening injuries and off-course scandals.

But on an overcast Sunday at Augusta, Woods sent the sporting wold into meltdown by claiming a fifth Masters green jacket and 15th major title.

In the aftermath, he shared some beautiful moments with his family, including girlfriend Herman.

Tiger Woods and girlfriend Erica Herman celebrate. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)
Tiger Woods and girlfriend Erica Herman celebrate. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)

Woods’ return to the top of his game has coincided with a much settled period in his personal life.

Woods and Herman have been dating since late 2017, first seen together as a couple at that year’s Presidents Cup.

Herman works in the restaurant industry and formerly managed Woods’ pop-up eatery, The Woods, in Florida.

She was at the Tour Championship to celebrate Woods’ first PGA Tour win for five years in September and celebrated the end of another drought in Augusta on Sunday, having been in attendance for the duration of the tournament.

According to The Sun: “After 11 years without a major title, the couple’s public kiss cemented Erica as troubled Tiger’s saviour.”

Tiger Woods celebrates with girlfriend Erica Herman and son Charlie Axel. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods celebrates with girlfriend Erica Herman and son Charlie Axel. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

He was spotted mouthing “I love you” towards Herman after winning the Ryder Cup last year, sending fans into a frenzy.

How he turned it around

As Woods celebrated his remarkable breakthrough victory, many were left gobsmacked at how he’s managed to bounce back from injuries and off-course scandals.

Woods reportedly said at the champions dinner at the 2017 Masters that he was “done” (retiring).

His fourth back surgery also led to an addiction to prescription drugs that resulted in Woods being arrested in Florida in May 2017 while asleep at the wheel of his car, before he completed “intensive” rehab.

All of that followed his infamous cheating scandal, in which he admitted to bedding over 100 women while married to Elin Nordegren.

Tiger Woods and Erica Herman at the Ryder Cup gala dinner in 2018. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods and Erica Herman at the Ryder Cup gala dinner in 2018. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

He reached rock bottom after winning his 14th major, after his personal life unravelled in 2009 when reports of multiple extramarital affairs surfaced.

The scandal saw Woods crash his car, lose major sponsorship deals, spend 45 days in a clinic for sex addiction and undergo a divorce from Nordegren.

He also conceded retirement was a possibility in late 2017 when he couldn’t swing a golf club for almost 10 months and plummeted to 1,199 on the world rankings.

But his comeback from oblivion is what makes his first major victory since the 2008 US Open so special.

And many believe he’s got Herman to thank.

with AAP