By Rahul Banerji
Tiger Woods entered the World Golf Hall of Fame at a glittering ceremony in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Wednesday, ushered into golf’s most revered club by his daughter, Sam.
In a touching speech, the 82-time PGA Tour winner and 15-time major champion’s induction presenter said. “Dad, I inducted you into the Dad Hall of Fame a long time ago.
“But today I am so proud to present my dad, Tiger Woods, into the World Golf Hall of Fame.”
As her grandmother Kultida, brother Charlie and father looked on, Sam recalled, “In 2007 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.
“He then had to rush to the airport, fly from Pittsburgh to Orlando, and drive to the Winnie Palmer Hospital.
“Within five minutes of walking into the hospital room, still wearing his red golf shirt, on June 18, I was born.
“He may have lost that day, but he won the greatest gift of all.
Defying the odds
“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.
“Through thick and thin, you, Charlie, Erica, Kuna, and I will always be a team.”
Responding, an emotional Tiger Woods began with, “Crap, I just lost a bet to (Steve) Stricker that I wouldn’t cry.
“One of the things that Dad (the late Earl Woods) had 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 had to be twice as good to be given half a chance.
“So that understanding and that drive, train hard, fight easy. I made practicing 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.
No free lunches
“… Without the sacrifices of Mom who took me to all those junior golf tournaments, and Dad, who instilled in me this work ethic to fight for what I believe in, chase after my dreams.
“Nothing’s ever going to be given to you, everything’s going to be earned.
“If you don’t go out there and put in the work, you’re not going to get the results, but two, and more importantly, you don’t deserve it.
“You need to earn it. That defined my upbringing. That defined my career.
“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 allowed me and supported me in the toughest times, the darkest of times, and celebrated the highest of times.”
Fellow athletes Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, Annika Sorenstam and Jack Nicklaus offered perspective on Woods’ legacy as one of the greatest sports figures of all time.
Joining Woods as part of the 2022 induction class was 11-time LPGA Tour winner and three-time US Women’s Open champion, Susie Maxwell Berning.
Others included former PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem, and golf course designer/architect, Marion Hollins.
Two new awards were presented for the first time. Renee Powell was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Charlie Sifford Award for advancing diversity in golf.
Peter Ueberroth and the late Dick Ferris were honoured through a Lifetime Achievement recognition for their contributions to golf.
Short notes
Tiger Woods (Competitor)
Over the course of his career Tiger Woods has won a record-tying 82 PGA Tour events, along with 15 major championships.
Unforgettably, Woods accomplished the “Tiger Slam” in 2000-’01, becoming the first golfer since Bobby Jones (1930) to hold all four major titles at one time.
He also is a two-time winner of the Players Championship and became the first two-time winner of the FedEx Cup. Outside the ropes, Woods’ TGR Foundation has supported more than two million students around the world.
Susie Maxwell Berning (Competitor)
Despite not taking up golf until age 15, Susie Maxwell Berning quickly took to the sport. Upon turning professional in 1964, she earned LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year honours.
An 11-time LPGA winner, she also captured four major championships, including the US Women’s Open three times (1968, ’72, ’73).
Tim Finchem (Contributor)
While PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem worked to ensure that giving back was part of the fabric of the Tour’s business model – raising more than $2 billion in charitable contributions during his tenure.
He also was instrumental in founding the First Tee to empower kids with life skills through golf, and he led the creation and execution efforts around signature pillars in professional golf, including the FedEx Cup, FedEx Cup Playoffs and the Presidents Cup.
Marion Hollins (Contributor)
A visionary golf course developer/architect, Marion Hollins became a pioneer of the sport.
A standout golfer who won the 1921 U.S. Women’s Amateur, she would shift her attention by contributing to the development of the Monterey Peninsula into a golf mecca.
In collaboration with Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie she provided her influence on the development of Augusta National Golf Club.
Peter Ueberroth & Dick Ferris
Peter Ueberroth and Dick Ferris, alongside Clint Eastwood, the late Arnold Palmer and their other partners, purchased Pebble Beach in 1999 from Taiheiyo Club and Sumitomo Bank, returning it to US ownership.
They served as co-chairmen of Pebble Beach Company for 20 years, and together with their fellow board members and management team, worked to ensure Pebble Beach remained open to the public and a global, must-play, bucket-list golf destination.
(courtesy pgatour.com)
Also read: As Tiger Woods enters World Golf Hall of Fame, a look back
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