- Matthew Hamachek, the codirector of the HBO documentary, “Tiger,” informed Insider how he was in a position to get Tiger Woods’ former mistress, Rachel Uchitel, within the film.
- He stated that conversations occurred months earlier than manufacturing started, resulting in a near eight-hour interview along with her for the documentary. It was the primary interview they performed for the film.
- “Rachel felt strongly that no person had ever informed her facet of the story; that the media had taken her and turned her right into a caricature,” Uchitel stated.
- “I needed to inform my story on HBO as a result of I needed folks to see what actually occurred,” Uchitel informed “Additional” earlier than half one in all “Tiger” aired on Sunday.
- “I used to be not a mistress, and I used to be in an actual relationship,” she added, “and I need folks to depart me alone about it.”
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
On the conclusion of half one of many Tiger Woods HBO documentary, “Tiger,” we watch as Woods wins the 2006 Open Championship, marking the primary main win for Woods after the demise of his father Earl.
Emotion overtakes Woods as he cries within the arms of his caddie Steve Williams after which his spouse, Elin Nordegren. It has all of the makings of a storybook ending for an athlete, who grew to become all the things his father needed him to be: an inspiration that transcends sports. At the very least within the public eye.
However as Woods and Nordegren embrace, the image cuts to a shot with a gray background and a lady coming into the body sitting down in a chair.
It is Rachel Uchitel, Woods’ former mistress.
“OK, so what would you like me to speak about?” she asks the digicam as half one in all “Tiger” ends.
It units the stage for an explosive half two of the documentary during which all of Woods’ demons are detailed, destroying his then pristine public picture.
To land Uchitel’s first-ever in-depth interview took a number of conversations between her and the filmmakers earlier than manufacturing started, “Tiger” codirector Matthew Hamachek informed Insider, noting that all of it got here all the way down to belief.
“We met along with her for lunch, and Rachel felt strongly that no person had ever informed her facet of the story; that the media had taken her and turned her right into a caricature,” stated Hamachek, who codirected the film with Matthew Heineman (“Cartel Land”).
Afton Almaraz/AP
Over Thanksgiving weekend in 2009, the world was shocked when information broke that Woods was in a automobile accident simply outdoors his Florida mansion. The world was much more shocked once they realized the accident was triggered after Nordegren had chased the golfer out of their house after she found his infidelity.
Quickly after, a slew of ladies went public about their affairs with Woods through the years, however Uchitel, a New York Metropolis evening membership supervisor, stood out because the tabloids reported that she was the one who broke up Woods’ marriage.
“What she actually needed was to ensure she had a platform to inform her facet,” Hamachek stated concerning the discussions he had with Uchitel..
A few months of back-and-forth discussions led to her doing a near eight-hour interview for “Tiger,” the primary one finished for the documentary.
“It was a marathon,” Hamachek stated. “We talked about all the things. She actually does inform her complete story of assembly Tiger up by way of what occurred the evening that their relationship got here to an finish.”
Harry How/Getty Photos
In an interview on “Extra” earlier than half one of many documentary aired Sunday, Uchitel stated the final decade had been “a dwelling hell” for her.
“I needed to inform my story on HBO as a result of I needed folks to see what actually occurred,” she stated. “I used to be not a mistress, and I used to be in an actual relationship, and I need folks to depart me alone about it.”
“I made a foul resolution. And I remorse it, and I am embarrassed about it and,” Uchitel continued, “my apology is to 2 folks, not the world, two folks.”
The vast majority of half two of “Tiger” is devoted to Uchitel and Woods’ relationship, in addition to different issues that led to his fall from grace, together with accidents, his divorce from Nordegren, and a dependency to medicine and alcohol that led to a 2017 arrest for driving beneath the affect.
Hamachek stated he felt it was vital to have Uchitel within the film as a result of it offers an added layer to Woods’ story.
“What I actually needed to do was paint a portrait of his life from the individuals who knew him finest and hopefully to carry a little bit of empathy to his story,” he stated. “That is what the individuals who talked to us helped us do.”
The codirector added that there have been loads of sordid particulars that he left on the reducing room flooring since his intention from the beginning was to color a whole but complicated image of Woods, not merely give attention to his transgressions.
“There have been tons of salacious particulars we might have gotten into,” Hamachek continued, “however we needed to get to the center of who this man is and why all this occurred to him.”
Half one in all “Tiger” is on the market now on HBO Max, whereas half two airs on HBO and HBO Max on January 17.
