Tiger Woods Inducted Into The Hall Of Fame
Despite all the love heaped on Tiger Woods, both spoken and written tweeted and typed, Wednesday evening marked a first: a meeting completely dedicated to honoring his tremendous impact on golf. Not only did he have an impact on Stanford, Nike, and the PGA Tour, but he had an impact on the entire sport he conquered. There was no tournament going on in the background, no fundraising, and no sponsorship deal. The most inevitable of inevitabilities, Tiger Woods’ Hall of Fame induction, was an exercise in sheer gratitude.
Florida’s Onte Vedra Beach — Tiger Woods Induction
Inside the PGA Tour’s shiny new headquarters, golf’s power brokers gathered to praise Woods for the remarkable moments he conjured, the limits he broke, and the generation he inspired. Members of that generation’s younger generation came to pay their respects. Woods’ de facto younger brother, Justin Thomas, sat directly behind him. Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Billy Horschel, and Tony Finau sat on a second-floor balcony, looking down on a ceremony that was gradually building to its climax. As is his wont, Woods would be the last to tee off.
Susie Maxwell Berning
“This building is big enough for both Bryson and Brooks’ ego!” said David Feherty as he kicked off the proceedings. Judy Rankin introduced the night’s first inductee, three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning, who wondered if Woods would trade his three U.S. Open winners’ checks for hers, which totaled $16,000.
Posthumous Award – Marion Hollins
The posthumous award was given to Marion Hollins, whose contributions to the game. She was instrumental in the construction of Cypress Point, Pasatiempo, and Augusta National were only surpassed by the fact that she did so a woman in the 1920s. Renee Powell, one of the first black women to play on the LPGA Tour, received the Charlie Sifford Award, and Peter Ueberroth and the late Dick Ferris were honored for their stewardship of the Pebble Beach Company.
Sam Woods Introduces Her Father
Sam Woods shone brightly while introducing her father, Tiger Woods, for induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The oldest of Tiger Woods’ two children joked and openly talked about difficult times she has shared with her father.
“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,” the 14-year-old Sam said, referring to her father’s car accident last February that nearly took his life and ended his golf career. “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.” Sam spoke proudly of her father, also answering the question of how is Tiger Woods doing after that horrific crash.
“This is why you deserve this; because you’re a fighter.”
Woods beamed throughout the ceremony
Woods’ family was in the front row, Sam, his mother, Tida; son, Charlie; and girlfriend, Erica Harman.
Guests and Tributes
Among PGA Tour players in attendance were Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel, Tony Finau, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Mackenzie Hughes, and Tom Hoge. Among the 27 members of the Hall of Fame on hand were Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Mark O’Meara, Davis Love III, Sandy Lyle, Karrie Webb, Juli Inkster, and Nancy Lopez Russell.
Video tributes came from Serena Williams, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Brady.
They all came to offer support to the man that revolutionized the game of golf.
