REPORT: TIGER $1O MIL PAY OFF

Team Tiger paid mistress Numero Uno Rachel Uchitel $10 million in hush money which may explain why there's nothing left in the war chest to keep the others silent.

Uchitel, whom The ENQUIRER first exposed in a bombshell world exclusive,  was caught by livid wife Elin Nordegren after finding text messages of the Manhattan party girl on his cell phone.

As the world media frenzy kicked into overdrive, Uchitel was ready to hold a presser after retaining Gloria Allred, (the lawyer of choice for mistresses apparently), when she suddenly canceled.

Initial reports said her pay off by Tiger was in the $2-$5 million range.

A shocking new report claims the pay-off was actually much higher - as in $10 million.

The night of the explosive gotcha confrontation between Elin and Tiger was prompted by the ENQUIRER story which hit the stands the day prior. 

Elin had texted Uchitel, pretending to be Tiger, and when Uchitel responded, Elin called her on the phone.

A livid Elin then roused the potent putter from his Ambien induced slumber, chased him out of the house and into his SUV which crashed into a fire hydrant igniting the marital conflagration heard 'round the world!