Tiger Woods made an emotional speech after being inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame

A night of emotions for world golf: Tiger Woods, Through tears, he recalled on Wednesday the fight against racism when he was young and the support of his parents during his golfing career. at an emotional World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony. At the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, the Californian was hailed for an impressive career that has seen him capture 15 Grand Slam titles, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18, as well as win 82 PGA Tour titles. United States, tied with Sam Snead for the all-time record.

The crack, who remains officially inactive on the circuit due to the accident suffered in February 2021, thanked the instructors, caddies, friends and family, many of them present, for the support that helped him turn childhood dreams in a historic sports career.“I didn’t get here alone” Woods asserted. “I had amazing parents, mentors, and friends who stood by me through the darkest moments and celebrated the highest moments.”

The former number one added that “it’s actually a team award.” “You all allowed me to get here and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart”. The 46-year-old American was among four enshrined at a ceremony along with former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, the late golf pioneer Marion Hollins and four-time women’s Grand Slam winner Susie Maxwell Berning.

Woods became emotional before reflecting on his life, opening his comments by saying: “I just lost a bet to (veteran PGA Tour player) Steve Stricker as I said I wouldn’t cry.” He recalled having to look for lost golf balls on golf courses to practice when he was a kid and his inspirational father Earl told him to stop betting on quarters. So “I came home a week later, I had a pocket full of dollars.” “One of the things that drove me was his passion for playing golf,” Woods commented on his father.

Woods was affected by racism when he was denied access to locker rooms, so early in his career he had to change shoes in the parking lot. “I put on my shoes in the parking lot and only asked two questions: Where is the 1st tee? What is the field record? You had to be twice as good to get half the chance; so it was very hard, it hurt me a lot. I was not allowed in the dressing rooms. The color of my skin dictated that…As time went on, that pushed me even more.”

While his father taught golf, his Thai mother, Kultida, instilled in him a toughness that would serve him well in the coming decades of competition. Woods said that he would not have become a legend “without the sacrifices of mom and dad”: “They instilled in me this work ethic to fight for what I believe in, to pursue my dreams.”

Tiger couldn’t hold back his tears again. talking about how his parents had to take out a second mortgage so he could continue playing golf as a teenager. Its good results allowed it to attract the attention of brands such as Nike and Titletist, with which he signed agreements whose first income he used to pay his parents’ mortgages. Without a doubt, it was the most emotional speech of the golf legend in his entire career.

There were difficulties, of course. Woods admitted to affairs with multiple lovers in December 2009 and divorced his then-wife Elin Nordegren in August 2010. He battled injuries to his knee and back and underwent multiple surgeries on both, wondering if he would ever live without back pain. back before a 2017 operation allowed him to play again, ending a five-year winless drought at the 2018 Tour Championship.

In 2019, Woods won the Masters, his first major title since the 2008 US Open, hugging kids Sam and Charlie on the 18th green at Augusta National, the same way he had given his parents a hug there after his triumph at the 1997 Masters.

To add more drama to his career, he sustained serious leg injuries in a car accident in February 2021 and continues to recover; he hopes to be able to play a few events each year, but so far has not given a timetable for a possible return.

Wednesday night was emotional from start to finish, because he was also introduced by his daughter Sam Alexis, who mentioned the accident in her comments: “We didn’t know if he would come home with two legs or not.” “Not only are you being inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’re standing here on your own two feet.” “That’s why you deserve this, because you’re a fighter. You have defied the odds every single time (including) being able to walk just a few months after your accident,” her daughter recalled.

also had time Sam to tell an amazing anecdote about his father: “It’s been on the football fields and golf tournaments over the years that Charlie and I started to realize how famous he really is,” he said. “I mean, how can a guy who still FaceTimes his friends to discuss Marvel-DC timelines? and that he goes to Comic-Con dressed as Batman to be one of the greatest golfers that ever lived?

Surely his habit of dressing up as Batman at prestigious comic book fairs will be a must ask at Tiger’s next press conference. An unexpected side, for an athlete who in 2019 achieved one of the most impressive returns to activity in the history of sport.