CHIPPY SHOT: Former Men’s Fitness editor Neal Boulton says this Tiger Woods cover story was in return for not revealing an affair.
The National Enquirer caught Tiger Woods in a steamy extramarital affair two years ago, but killed the story in exchange for the golfer doing a rare cover-shoot for its sister mag — despite Tiger’s exclusive deal with a rival publication, a former editor told The Post.
Woods’ camp, fearful of a potential public-relations nightmare in spring 2007, allegedly agreed to do a cover for Men’s Fitness — a magazine owned by the Enquirer’s parent company, American Media, former Men’s Fitness editor-in-chief Neal Boulton said yesterday.
“[American Media CEO] David Pecker knew about Tiger Woods’ infidelity a long time ago,” Boulton told The Post. “[Pecker] traded silence for a Men’s Fitness cover.”
HEY, TIGER! STOP HIDING AND TELL THE TRUTH
Boulton said he left his post in April 2007, as the seedy Woods-Men’s Fitness deal was completed.
“We were going to [do a quid pro quo with] America’s favorite sports star, just to get his name on the cover of a magazine,” said Boulton. “That was too much for me. That’s when I high-tailed it out of there.”
Pecker dismissed all the quid-pro-quo allegations.
“It is absolutely not true,” said Pecker. “[Boulton] is a disgruntled former employee.”
American Media and The Enquirer first learned of Woods’ alleged off-the-course action, after receiving a tip from the mother of Woods’ alleged paramour, according to Boulton.
Enquirer photographers snapped grainy photos of Woods and his alleged gal pal getting busy in an SUV, Boulton said.
Despite the sketchy evidence, it was enough to convince Woods to do a rare cover piece for an American Media publication, Boulton said.
“Tiger Woods doesn’t do [posed] covers of magazines,” said Boulton.
The Woods cover eventually appeared on the August 2007 issue.
The superstar golfer has an exclusive, multiyear, seven-figure deal with Condé Nast title Golf Digest to serve as their “playing editor.”
He asked Condé Nast for permission to do the Men’s Fitness cover, and the Golf Digest publishers didn’t object, a Condé Nast spokeswoman said.
“The [Men’s Fitness] cover wasn’t a violation of our agreement with Tiger, and we had no problem with it,” said Golf Digest rep Meg D’Incecco.
In the 3,895-word Men’s Fitness feature, Woods gave readers a detailed look at his training regimen. The article included Tiger’s tips on weightlifting, exercise and eating.
Additional reporting by David K. Li