TORONTO: Tiger Woods, who impressed a era of gamers along with his different worldly expertise, charisma and staggering success, took his place among the many recreation’s greats on Wednesday as he was inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame.
Throughout a ceremony at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Seaside, Florida, Woods delivered a speech about his profession and people who helped him alongside the way in which after his 14-year-old daughter Sam launched him for induction.
Woods, 46, acquired emotional as he recounted the time his dad and mom took out a second mortgage on their home — one which he would later repay — in order that he, on the age of 14, may compete on the American Junior Golf Affiliation circuit.
“You need to perceive I acquired to this place due to my upbringing, having two unbelievable dad and mom,” mentioned Woods. “I do know that golf is a person sport, we do issues on our personal loads, for hours on finish, however in my case I didn’t get right here alone.
“I’ve unbelievable dad and mom, mentors and buddies who … supported me within the hardest of instances, darkest of instances and celebrated the best of instances.”
A handful of fellow PGA Tour gamers who’re all competing in The Gamers Championship beginning on Thursday have been in attendance, together with Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
Woods was inducted alongside 11-time LPGA winner Susie Maxwell Berning, former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and the late Marion Hollins, who broke boundaries as one of many few feminine builders of golf programs within the sport’s historical past.
Ever since Woods appeared on tv’s Mike Douglas Present on the age of two displaying his uncooked placing abilities alongside Bob Hope, he has been anticipated to
produce the outstanding.
The American, whose profession is on maintain as he recovers from severe leg accidents suffered in a February 2021 automotive crash, exceeded the hype and has finally develop into one of many world’s most celebrated sports activities figures.
After a profitable junior, faculty and newbie golf profession, Woods turned skilled in 1996 and gained in solely his fifth PGA Tour begin, redefining a recreation that had by no means been dominated by a Black golfer, and raised the bar on golfers’ athleticism.
“Taking part in at a few of these golf programs I used to be not allowed within the clubhouses the place all the opposite juniors have been, the colour of my pores and skin dictated that, and as I acquired older that drove me much more,” mentioned Woods.
Woods was a rankings hit the second he burst onto the scene as an expert and because the sport’s recognition grew, so did the prize cash paid out at PGA Tour occasions.
He has gained 93 worldwide occasions, together with a record-tying 82 on the PGA Tour, and his 15 main championships trails solely the 18 gained by Jack Nicklaus.
Woods can be the one fashionable professional to win all 4 main golf titles in succession, taking the US Open, British Open and PGA Championship in 2000 and the Masters in 2001, a feat that grew to become recognized a the Tiger Slam.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom following his 2019 Masters victory which got here after years of surgical procedures and private issues that satisfied many the perfect golfer of his era was completed.
“What drove me was the eagerness to play the sport of golf. I used to be by no means going to be denied to play. I adore it,” mentioned Woods.
“One of many issues Dad instilled in me, he grew up in the identical period of Charlie Sifford the place you needed to be twice pretty much as good to be given half the prospect.”
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