Tiger Woodshas been enshrined, officially, in golf history — with help from someone special.
The iconic golfer, 46, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida on Wednesday night following a heartfelt introduction from his daughter,Sam Woods.
In her sweet speech, filled with personal anecdotes about their relationship, Sam told her father, “You’re a fighter, you’ve defied the odds every time.”
Specifically addressing his car crash last year, which left Woods with significant orthopedic injuries, Sam called the moment one of Tiger’s “ultimate lows.”
“We didn’t know if you’d come home with two legs or not,” Sam, 14, admitted. “Now, you’re not only about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’re standing here on your own two feet. This is why you deserve this.”
She added, “Through thick and thin, you, Charlie, Erica, [grandmother Kultida Woods] and I will always be a team.”
Growing emotional when he took the stage, Tiger spent part of his speech opening up about his early days as a golfer, time spent on the golf course in his youth, and the sacrifices of his parents, including late father, Earl Woods.
“I had this burning desire to be able to express myself in this game of golf,” Tiger recalled of his come-up in the sport.
Tiger Woods.Sam Greenwood/Getty
Tiger also recounted that as a junior golfer, the “color of my skin” didn’t allow him access to the clubhouses at golf courses he played at. Instead, he said, he focused on beating course records.
Toward the conclusion of his speech, Tiger told the gathered crowd — which included many of his contemporaries, like Justin Thomas — “I know that golf is an individual sport, we do things on our own a lot for hours on end. But in my case, I didn’t get here alone. I had unbelievable parents, mentors, friends who … supported me in the hardest times, the darkest of times.”
Sam Woods.Sam Greenwood/Getty
The athlete’s son Charlie, 13,was also in attendance, as was his mother Kultida and longtime girlfriend Erica Hermann.
Tiger — largely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time — has an impressive 82 PGA Tour wins, which includes victories at 15 majors. His future professionally remains up in the air after last year’s car accident.
Tiger Woods and his family.Sam Greenwood/Getty
Last month, while speaking at a news conference at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Tiger confirmed he will likely not be playing in the PGA Tour anytime soon.
“I want to know, but I don’t,” he added. “My golf activity has been very limited. I can chip and putt really well and hit short irons very well, but I haven’t done any long stuff seriously. I’m still working. Like at the PNC, I’m still working on the walking part.”
Tiger was among four total people to be enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday: 11-time LPGA Tour winner Susie Maxwell Berning, former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, and late amateur golfer Marion Hollins, were also inducted.
source: people.com
