Tiger Woods, literally the G.O.A.T. and one of the richest athletes in the current era, recently added another feather in his cap. Most PGA wins record holder, Tiger was inducted into the “World Golf Hall of Fame” on Wednesday. He was presented by his 14-year-old daughter Sam, who also gave a little speech, which made Tiger teary-eyed.
The Speech That Made Tiger Cry
As she presented, Sam said her father strives to inculcate such lessons in her and her brother. In the presence of family members, including Woods’s girlfriend Erica Herman, she stated of her father, “You’re a warrior.”
‘You’ve defied the odds every time – being the first black and Asian golfer to win a major, being able to win your fifth Masters after back surgeries, and being able to walk just a few months after your crash,’ she said, pointing to Woods’ fatal car crash last year.
‘Dad, I inducted you into the Dad Hall of Fame a long time ago, but today, I am so proud to present my dad, Tiger Woods, into the World Golf Hall of Fame.’
What Tiger Wood Mentioned In His Speech
Woods, 46, made no mention of his 82 PGA Tour triumphs, 15 major championships, or the 8 surgeries he’s had over the years. Instead, he talked of his parents getting out a new mortgage so he could play on the junior tour in California. Tearing up when he addressed his late father, who warned him he’d have to work hard for whatever he desired.
‘If you don’t put in the effort if you don’t go out there and put in the work, you’re not going to get the results,’ Woods remarked. ‘However, two, and perhaps more crucially, you don’t deserve it.’ It’s something you’ll have to work for. As a result, that summed up my upbringing. That was the turning point in my career.’
Woods, who became the first golfer of black and Asian ancestry to win a major when he won the 1997 Masters at the age of 21, spoke about the persecution he faced as a child. He shared a tale about traveling to a country club for competition and being denied entry into the clubhouse by other players because of his skin tone.
Instead, he concentrated on breaking course records, he explained. Woods, 46, made no mention of his 82 PGA Tour triumphs, 15 major championships, or the 8 surgeries he’s had over the years.
‘So, I was denied access into the clubhouses. That’s fine. Put my shoes on here in the parking lot,’ Woods remembered. ‘I asked two questions only, that was it. Where was the first tee, and what was the course record? Not complicated.’
He was undoubtedly the star of an induction class that featured retiring PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, three-time U.S. Women’s Open winner Susie Maxwell Berning, and Marion Hollins, the first woman to construct major golf courses.
Woods Private Life And Ever Reigning Conflicts
Woods’ private life, like that of many other athletic greats, has been tainted by controversy, heartbreak, and scandal. He slammed his Genesis SUV into a ravine in Los Angeles in February 2021. He was traveling at 87 mph in a 45-mph zone. On his right leg, he had several fractures. It damaged the bones and muscles of his ankle, and also gave soft tissue trauma. Woods has only enjoyed the rare casual golf games since undergoing arduous surgery and physical treatment. He reaffirmed in November 2021 that he will never come back to the PGA full-time. He had retired from the competition in 2016.
In 2009, Woods was involved in another automobile accident, this time immediately after an altercation with his then-wife, Elin Nordegren. Over the revelation that he had been unfaithful to her with at least 7 other women. Woods eventually acknowledged having been unfaithful and entering treatment. His marriage failed, and some critics said that his actions had set a negative example for his supporters.
Those controversies, however, were not mentioned during Wednesday’s presentation. It was so focused on Woods that three brief video presentations labeled ‘GOAT,’ the iconic abbreviation for ‘greatest of all time,’ were included.
The induction ceremony
For decades, PGA officials have claimed that Woods deserved to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Except for Woods, who was on a list of contenders 2 years ago, all of whom were introduced one by one with a rundown of their accomplishments. It was unnecessary to mention what he accomplished, who he inspired, and the significant impact he has upon the sport in terms of recruiting new followers. He raised television ratings and boosted prize money.
‘I think every pro out here owes a debt of gratitude to Tiger because this sport wouldn´t be where it is today without his impact,’ Patrick Cantlay, who is the FedEx Cup champion spoke this. Woods’ resume is so impressive that he has 3 Hall of Fame titles in one. He had the lifetime Grand Slam and 24 PGA Tour victories after only four years on the tour. The first major he won was the 1997 Masters, which he won by a score of 12 out of a possible 20.
He won 46 victories on tour and 10 championships by the time he was 30. It included a major sweep, something no one had ever done before. Woods now has a career-high 82 PGA Tour victories, as well as 15 major championships. These are three fewer than Jack Nicklaus. As Woods earned the title of the world’s best golfers, the hall at PGA Tour headquarters, which accommodated around 500 people, erupted in cheers.
Watch the video here:
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