A tearful Tiger Woods recalled preventing racism as a youth and the help of his dad and mom on Wednesday in an emotional induction ceremony to the World Golf Corridor of Fame. Woods was hailed for a transcendent profession that has seen him seize 15 main titles, second solely to the career-record 18 of Jack Nicklaus, and win 82 US PGA Tour titles, stage with Sam Snead for the all-time file. He thanked instructors, caddies, family and friends — lots of them in attendance — for the help that helped him flip childhood goals right into a historic sport profession.
“I did not get right here alone,” Woods mentioned. “I had unbelievable dad and mom, mentors and pals who supported me within the darkest of occasions and celebrated the best of occasions.
“It is really a staff award. All of you allowed me to get right here and I simply need to say thanks from the underside of my coronary heart.”
The 46-year-old American was amongst 4 enshrined in a ceremony at US PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Florida, joined by former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, the late pioneer golf course developer Marion Hollins and four-time girls’s main winner Susie Maxwell Berning.
Woods was emotional earlier than he started reflecting on his life, opening his remarks by saying, “I simply misplaced a wager to (PGA veteran Steve) Stricker I would not cry.”
Woods recalled having to seek for misplaced golf balls to apply with as a baby and his inspirational late father Earl telling him to cease placing for quarters, so “I come dwelling per week later, I had a pocket filled with {dollars}.”
“One of many issues that drove me was his ardour to play the sport of golf,” Woods mentioned of his dad.
Woods was stung by racism when denied entry to clubhouses, so he modified sneakers within the car parking zone.
“You needed to be twice nearly as good to get half an opportunity (so) I made apply so laborious, damage a lot, as a result of I need to make certain I used to be prepared come recreation time.
“I used to be not allowed into the clubhouses. The colour of my pores and skin dictated that… As I received older that drove me much more.”
Whereas his father taught golf, his Thai mom Kultida infused him with toughness that will serve him properly within the many years of competitors to return.
Woods mentioned he wouldn’t have turn out to be a legend “with out the sacrifices of mother and pop, who instilled in me this work ethic to struggle for what I consider in, to chase after my goals.”
“Nothing is ever going to be given to you. The whole lot goes to be earned. If you happen to do not exit and put within the work, the hassle, one you are not going to get the outcomes and two, and extra necessary, you do not deserve it. You did not earn it,” Woods mentioned.
He broke down recalling his dad and mom taking out a second mortgage on their dwelling so he might play junior occasions, crying as he recalled getting sponsor offers and prize cash so “the very first thing I used to be in a position to do was to repay that mortgage.”
Woods was a three-time US Novice champion who turned skilled in 1996 at age 20. In 1997, he received the Masters by 12 strokes in an epic efficiency to turn out to be the primary Black golfer to win a significant title. Two months later, he grew to become world primary for the primary time.
Woods dominated golf for the following decade, together with a run of 4 consecutive main titles beginning on the 2000 US Open and concluding with the 2001 Masters — the “Tiger Slam”.
In all, Woods has received the Masters 5 occasions, the PGA Championship 4 occasions and the US Open and British Open 3 times every.
‘You are a fighter’
There have been hardships. Woods admitted affairs with a number of mistresses in December 2009 and was divorced from Elin Nordegren in August 2010.
Woods struggled with knee and again accidents and underwent a number of surgical procedures on each, questioning if he would ever stay with out again ache earlier than a 2017 operation enabled him to play once more, ending a five-year victory drought on the 2018 Tour Championship.
In 2019, Woods received the Masters for his first main title for the reason that 2008 US Open, hugging kids Sam and Charlie off the 18th inexperienced at Augusta Nationwide the best way he had hugged his dad and mom there after his 1997 Masters triumph.
Woods suffered extreme leg accidents in a single-car crash in February 2021 and continues to get well, saying he hopes to have the ability to play a couple of occasions annually however up to now giving no timetable for a doable return.
Woods was launched by daughter Sam, who famous the crash in her remarks.
“We did not know if he’d come dwelling with two legs or not,” she mentioned. “Not solely are you being inducted into the corridor of fame, however you are standing right here by yourself two toes.
“For this reason you deserve this, since you’re a fighter. You have defied the chances each time (together with) having the ability to stroll just some months after your crash.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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