Rachel Uchitel’s 15 minutes of fame from the Tiger Woods sex scandal appears to be winding down. The New York party girl who had an alleged five-month fling with the top golfer, has been the subject of constant rumors that she and Tiger are still an item – all of which are apparently untrue.
Far from being by Tiger’s side, holding hands with him at a posh Palm Beach party, or hooking up with him on his yacht, as tabloids have reported, Uchitel has neither seen nor heard from him since the scandal broke, according to her attorney Gloria Allred.
Allred broke silence to deny that her client is still in touch with Woods in an interview with celebrity web site radaronline. Whether her statements are true or part of a continuing smokescreen to shield the golfer is difficult to determine.
But it seems unlikely Allred would put her professional reputation on the line to cover up for either Woods or Uchitel.
Uchitel was reportedly texting Woods before the Thanksgiving night car crash that ignited the scandal. Afterward, she reportedly let him know that she would deny their affair, which she did vehemently before signing on with Allred.
The VIP hostess and club manager, who had a reputation for chasing celebrities, was caught up in a firestorm of publicity after The National Enquirer named her as one of his mistresses. Woods had a blow-out fight with his wife Elin Nordegren that ended in a 2:25 a.m. car crash.
Since then, Woods has been linked to a dozen or more cocktail waitresses, VIP hostesses and party girls who have claimed to have had affairs with him during his marriage. Woods has two young children with Nordegren.
Uchitel has been the most adamant among Woods’ posse to claim she had a special connection with him. She fled to Palm Beach and holed up in a condo. It’s near where her mother lives, but also within walking distance to Woods’ yacht, fueling a new round of speculation.
Since her arrival, she has been photographed repeatedly out and about and on the beach in a skimpy bikini. Entertainment Tonight reported that she and Tiger were seen together holding hands at a private Palm Beach party.
Another tabloid, InTouch Weekly, reported that the two have been seeing each other all along.
The New York Post, however, threw some cold water on the rumors. It reported that most of the stories were being spread by Uchitel and her friends to milk the scandal for publicity.
Then Allred dropped the hammer. “Ms. Uchitel has had absolutely no contact with Tiger Woods for quite some time, and has not seen him or had any communication with him since she has been in Palm Beach,” the lawyer told radaronline.
Now Uchitel will either party with the polo crew or just go to the movies, “but she’s not married to either option quite yet,” according to TMZ.com.
As the clock winds down on 2009, it will also be ticking off the final seconds of Uchitel’s 15 minutes of fame as Woods’ reigning mistress. Hope she enjoyed the ride.
