Tearful Woods inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame
A tearful Tiger Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame after a moving introductory speech by his daughter Sam at the ceremony in Florida.
The 15-time major winner was joined by Sam (14), son Charlie (13), his mum Tilda and girlfriend Erica Herman at the Pgatourheadquartersinponte Vedra Beach for the special occasion.
The Class of 2022 also included former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, threetime US Open’s winner Susie Maxwell Berning and golf pioneer Marion Hollins.
But the highlight of the night was undoubtedly Woods, who shares the record with Sam Snead for most PGA Tour titles with82,takinghisrightfulplace in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Wearingred,thecoloursported by her dad on Sundays in tournaments, Sam delivered a touching speech after being asked by Woods to introduce him.
“Although I never met my dad'smostinfluentialrolemodel,mygrandfather,earlwoods, Ifeellikeicanhearhisvoiceevery day reminding me to ‘train hard, fight easy’," she said.
“This is an old special forces sayingthatheingrainedintomy dad, who now says it to Charlie and I. It not only teaches us that we have to put in the hard work to get what he want, but it's that hard work that will pay off in the end.”
Shethenmadereferencetoan event Woods didn’t win, namely his narrow defeat to Angel
Cabrera in the 2007 US Open at Oakmont.
“My dad found himself in a position to make an 18-foot putt to force a US Open playoff, which he missed by a foot,” she added to a chorus of laughter.
“He then had to rush to the airport, fly from Pittsburgh to Orlando, and drive to the Winniepalmerhospital.withinfive minutesofwalkingintothehospital room, still wearing his red golfshirt,onjune18,iwasborn. Hemayhavelostthatday,buthe won the greatest gift of all.”
Sam referenced the fact that Woods is still recovering from the serious leg injury he sustainedinasinglecaraccidentin Losangelesjustoverayearago.
“Recently dad had to train harder than ever,” she said.
“About a year ago you were stuck in a hospital bed at one of your ultimate lows and one of the scariest moments of your life and ours.
“Wedidn'tknowifyou'dcome home with two legs or not.
"Now not only are you 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, because you're a fighter.
“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 multiple back surgeries, and being able to walk just a few months after your crash.
“Throughthickandthin,you, Charlie, Erica, Kuna, and I will always be a team. Dad, I inductedyouintothedadhalloffame a long time ago, but today I am so proud to present my dad, Tiger Woods, into the World Golf Hall of Fame.”
Twenty-seven existing mem
bers of the World Golf Hall of Fame were in attendance, including Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, while current PGA Tour players there included Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and newly-appointedusrydercup captain Zach Johnson.
“Crap, I just lost a bet to [Steve] Strickerthatiwouldn'tcry,”said Woodsatthestartofhisspeech.
Hewentontodescribehisearly journey in the game, which includednotbeingallowedinto country clubs in the US due to his colour.
“One of the things that dad instilled in me is that he grew up in an era, same era as Charlie Sifford, and why my son is
named after Charlie, is that you hadtobetwiceasgoodtobegivenhalfachance,’’saidwoodsin highlighting the racial difficulties he encountered.
“So, that understanding and that drive, as Sam said, train hard, fight easy. I made practising so difficult, hurt so much, because I wanted to make sure that I was ready come game time. I hit thousands of balls, hands bleeding, aching, just so that I could play in a tournament.’’
Woods was visibly emotional throughout his speech, especially so when he talked about how his parents had taken out asecondmortgagetoallowhim
to play in American Junior College Association events.
“Without the sacrifices of mom, who took me to all those junior golf tournaments, and dad, who's not here, but who instilledinmethisworkethicto fight for what I believe in, chase aftermydreams,nothing'sever going to be given to you, everything'sgoingtobeearned,”added he long-time world No 1.
“If you don't go out there and putinthework,youdon'tgoout and put in the effort, one, you're not going to get the results, but two,andmoreimportantly,you don'tdeserveit.youneedtoearn it. That defined my upbringing. That defined my career.”