Tiger Woods gets emotional as daughter steals gig at World Golf Hall of Fame historic showcase
In perhaps the easiest and most obvious move in sports history, Tiger Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday night ahead of the 2022 Players Championship. Tiger, who is adopted by his daughter His brother, Sam, cried several times in a rare show of emotion to the 82-time PGA Tour winner and 15-time major champion.
How can he not? Sam ended his introduction with a great line: “Dad, I’ve been inducting you into your Dad’s Hall of Fame for a long time, but today, I’m so proud to introduce my dad, Tiger Woods, into the World Golf Hall of Fame.”
Woods, whose 82 PGA Tour wins are tied to Sam Snead and whose 15 major championships are second only to Jack Nicklaus, was in tears almost immediately. He spoke with surprising openness to someone who had been so tight-lipped for nearly his entire career. And almost everything he says includes his family, his upbringing, or his children. There’s not much focus on those big wins.
“I know that golf is an individual sport,” says Woods. “We do a lot of things on our own for hours on end. But in my case, I didn’t come here alone. I have parents, mentors, unbelievable friends who have given me permission. and supported me through the most difficult, darkest times. , and highest anniversary of all time.”
As future Hall of Famer Rory McIlroy noted earlier this week, Woods’ introduction may have been long-awaited, but it’s still important for the boy from California, who dominated as a child. and at every stage after that throughout his career.
“To see him inducted into the Hall of Fame, that’s obviously not[-braner] – Of course he’s going to be a Celebrity at the age of 5,” McIlroy said. It was really great. It’s great that he’s here. It’s great that it’s happening. And yes, I think he’s at a stage in his life where he can appreciate all of this a little more at this point. And yes, I always say, all of us playing here this week have to thank Tiger for the game that went on and where the Tour was. ”
It wasn’t always the easiest path for Team Woods. The best story Tiger shared on Wednesday was about how his parents mortgaged a second home so he could play AJGA events around the country. He was in tears again as he thanked his mother for that opportunity, noting that he had already paid off his second mortgage when he turned professional and signed with Titleist and Nike.
Tiger has probably accomplished more in his golf career than any other competitor in the history of the sport. It’s impossible to summarize it in a 15-minute speech on a Wednesday night in March, and the numbers – as unusual as they can be – don’t really do justice either.
Woods told one last story from his younger days, the one that really sums up his entire journey in a nice way. It shows how he paved the way for not only a better group of players to follow him, but a more diverse one. Along with all the great stories from a rich childhood filled with hard work, golf and loads of success – this really tells the story of Tiger Woods.
“Well, playing at some of these golf courses, I wasn’t allowed into the clubhouse where all the other juniors were,” Woods recalls. “The color of my skin determines that. As I get older, that makes me even more depressed.
“So since I was denied entry to the clubhouse, that’s okay. Put my shoes in here in the parking lot. I just asked two questions, that’s it. Where is the teeing point? first, and what is the merit of the course. Not complicated.”
