Photo: ©  2010 AFP/AAP/ROBYN BECK

Celebrity news website TMZ claims nightclub host Rachel Uchitel was paid the massive sum in return for signing an ironclad confidentiality agreement.

The National Enquiry named Uchitel as Woods' mistress a day and a half before he famously crashed his car outside his Florida home.

At the time, Uchitel planned to hold a tell-all press conference, but pulled out at the last minute.

TMZ claims Woods was so concerned about the depth of information Uchitel had on him that he offered her $10 million in hush money.

While Uchitel has kept quiet about the affair, a string of others have gone public about having had sex with Woods.

Woods is set to return to golf in April for the 2010 US Masters.