PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA | Of all the images in Tiger Woods’ career – and he’s among history’s most photographed people – the simple shot of him hugging his 14-year-old daughter, Sam, after she introduced him into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday night is among the sweetest.
It was his night, but Woods made sure it was her night and his son Charlie’s night and his mother Kultida’s night and his long-time girlfriend Erica Herman’s night and, of course, his late father Earl’s night.
And it was OK for the 500 guests in attendance and everyone who’s watched and marveled at Woods through the years to feel a piece of the moment, too.
“This is an individual award, but it’s actually a team award. All of you allowed me to get here. I just want to say thank you very much from the bottom of my heart,” Woods said in closing his 15-minute speech.
Woods’ induction was a living, breathing, remember-the-moments formality. Whether Fred Couples or Mark O’Meara belongs in the Hall of Fame may be a subject of debate for some, but Woods had been destined for induction for the bulk of his 46 years. He just had to turn 45 years old to become eligible.
“What he’s done for the game … is just monumental,” said Woods’ friend Justin Thomas, who sat behind the honoree Wednesday night.
It was a glittering evening in the PGA Tour’s sparkling new 187,000-square-foot headquarters, which sits amid a moat-like body of water meant to conjure up images of the famous par-3 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, which sits just a couple of par 5s away. Twenty-seven Hall of Fame members – plus their three new honorees – were on hand for the ceremony/television show and, as he’s always been, Woods was the biggest reason for the turnout, which included many current PGA Tour players.
Susie Maxwell Berning was inducted for her three U.S. Women’s Open victories. Marion Hollins, a former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, was enshrined for her contributions to course design on the Monterey Peninsula, including Cypress Point and Pasatiempo. Former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was recognized for his stewardship of the PGA Tour, including the creation of The First Tee and the FedEx Cup playoffs, among other advances.
The magnitude of Woods’ career can only partially be measured in the achievements he has accumulated. The 82 PGA Tour wins. The 15 major-championship trophies.
Beyond the numbers, Woods could have been inducted on the sheer impact of his presence.
He transformed golf. It went from a game to a sport. He made it front-page news. He changed the color of golf.
“He inspired a whole generation,” world No. 1 Jon Rahm said. “Besides entertaining all of us for 20 years and doing unbelievable things, he inspired the generation of players that you’re seeing today.”
This week, the Players Championship offers the first $20 million purse in golf history. Woods, the case can be made, is the biggest reason why.
Rory McIlroy first saw Woods play in person in 2002 in Ireland. A year or two later, McIlroy met Woods for the first time.
“There is this saying that you shouldn’t meet your heroes, and Tiger was my hero when I met him, and he lived up to expectations,” McIlroy said.
Throughout his career, Woods has ferociously guarded his personal life, even naming his yacht “Privacy.” It’s understandable, given the eyeballs, keyboards and cameras that have documented his every public move.
What is revealing now is how Woods has allowed his children, Sam and Charlie, to pull back the curtain on their father. He could have cloistered them away and led them to live as he has, but, instead, they have shown us the man we’ve wanted to know.
Woods has talked with undeniable joy about his children, about kicking soccer balls with them and being healthy enough with all that his body has been through, to stay active with them. Through them, including his play with Charlie in the annual PNC Championship in December, we have come to appreciate Woods even more.
“His continual presence has been a significant pattern throughout our relationship, whether it’s on FaceTime or school pickup or violin concerts or when we fail to teach our dogs tricks, he’s always there,” Woods’ daughter said in introducing her father, her red dress a nod to his famous Sunday outfits.
“And it’s been at the soccer fields and golf tournaments over the years that Charlie and I have begun to realize how famous he actually is. I mean, how can a guy who still FaceTimes his friends to discuss Marvel and DC timelines and who goes to Comic-Con dressed as Batman be one of the greatest golfers that ever lived?”
Woods’ father was instrumental in molding his son into the most dynamic player the game has seen. “Train hard, fight easy” was the mantra Earl Woods passed down to his son from his Special Forces days, and Tiger has passed it down to his kids, who play soccer and golf.
He talked about his family’s decision when he was his daughter’s age – 14 – to take out a second mortgage to pay for him to play American Junior Golf Association events. Woods choked up talking about the sacrifices that his parents, particularly his mother, made and how he paid off that mortgage almost immediately after turning pro.
The WGHOF induction was about a career, but it felt more about the person. The world has seen the brilliance and winced at the pain and wondered, like his family did, whether Woods could survive his auto accident last year.
“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,” Sam Woods said. “We didn’t know if you’d come 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.
“Through thick and thin, you, Charlie, Erica, Kuna, and I will always be a team.
“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.”
Woods and his daughter stood there in a hug for a moment – a lifetime in the making.