Tiger Woods on our Servicemen

PGA TOUR ^ | March 5, 2004 | William Walker

[BohDaThone]

Here's the "money quote"

"I wanted to come here because I was raised in the military, with my father being in the Army, and I understand the sacrifices he made for our country," Woods told the troops. "And I understand all the sacrifices you are making for our country, and I wanted to honor that. I want to do whatever I can to make you guys realize how thankful we are for all the jobs you guys are doing for us."

---------------------------------

And the full article.

Woods visits troops near Dubai March 5, 2004 By William Walker PGATOUR.COM Managing Editor E-Mail To A Friend!

George Washington, America's first President, would have been proud of Tiger Woods on this day.

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Woods was flown by military jet to the Navy carrier the USS George Washington, stationed near Dubai, and met with American troops on duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Woods is in the region for the United Arab Emirates' Dubai Desert Classic. And it's been quite a trip. He hit golf balls off a giant helicopter pad earlier in the week, and ended the week by lifting the spirits of hundreds of troops stationed with the Carrier Air Wing (CVW 7) and the USS George Washington (CVN 73) at sea.

Woods and his Orlando neighbor and close friend Mark O'Meara shook hands with troops and toured the flight operations deck, then were given persoanlized tours of the F-18 Hornet from the Strike Fighter Squadron and the F-14 Tomcat from Fighter Squadron 11 Red Rippers.

In return, both Woods and O'Meara ripped some drives off a golf mat, aiming out the ship's hangar bay doors. Hundreds of troops watched as the golf balls sailed out to sea and disappeared.

Tiger Woods gets a look inside a F/A-18C aboard the USS George Washington.(AP) "I wanted to come here because I was raised in the military, with my father being in the Army, and I understand the sacrifices he made for our country," Woods told the troops. "And I understand all the sacrifices you are making for our country, and I wanted to honor that. I want to do whatever I can to make you guys realize how thankful we are for all the jobs you guys are doing for us."

O'Meara added: "We travel a lot playing golf, but we can only do that because of what you all are doing for us. We don't take that for granted. We know the sacrifices you are making out here, and we really appreciate it."

Both players signed autographs for the troops before being jetted back to their golf base at the Dubai Desert Classic.

"This was a real special treat for me," said Navy 1st Class officer Ernest Rash. "I have been a Tiger Woods fan since he was playing college golf. For him to take the time to visit us is awesome. I even got an autograph for my son back home."

Woods also donated three of his Nike drivers, while O'Meara donated three Titleist putters. The players' golf clubs will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the George Washington Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Fund.

Woods' father Earl is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, who did two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Green Berets. He named his son Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods, and Tiger is a reference to Earl Woods' old friend and former Vietnamese soldier Vuong Dang Phong, known by the name 'Tiger,' who was killed in the conflict.

Both Tiger Woods and his father have often told the stories of how the toughness his father learned serving in the Army became a major part of Earl Woods' golf lessons with his young son, helping make the superstar as tough-minded and focused as he is today on the PGA TOUR.

[Guillermo]

Who cannot like this guy?

[Kaslin]

Nice report

[kellynla]

Great story. Not a big golf fan myself but we all know who Tiger Woods is. God bless him for making the trip. I know the guys really appreciated it! Semper Fi, Kelly

[CasearianDaoist]

Liberals?

[EvaClement]

quote: 'Both Tiger Woods and his father have often told the stories of how the toughness his father learned serving in the Army became a major part of Earl Woods' golf lessons with his young son, helping make the superstar as tough-minded and focused as he is today on the PGA TOUR.'

I see that toughness in the vets I know, too. Tiger Woods is such a nice young man.

[Peach]

Classy remarks by a classy guy.

[Guillermo]

Well, they don't even like themselves, how could they possibly like anyone else?

[onyx]

This is a really nice post and a welcome respite.

[CasearianDaoist]

Yes, but it does not logically follow that they would like someone who hated them.

[VOA]

Woods' father Earl is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, who did two tours
of duty in Vietnam with the Green Berets. He named his son Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods,
and Tiger is a reference to Earl Woods' old friend and former Vietnamese soldier
Vuong Dang Phong, known by the name 'Tiger,' who was killed in the conflict.

Just a ping, AR.
Although you probably already have heard this info.

[Guillermo]

I don't think Tiger Woods hates them, or anybody.

I don't hate liberals. I just think they're unwise, at best.

[Kirkwood]

Class act.

[deport]

Thu Mar 4, 5:14 PM ET
U.S. sailors watch as Tiger Woods (news) hits a few golf balls during a demonstration in the hanger bay of the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), in the Arabian Gulf on March 3, 2004. Accompanied by his fiancee Elin Nordegren and PGA player Mark O'Meara (news), Woods and caddies Steve Williams and Greg Rita visited the Norfolk, Virginia based carrier in the Arabian Gulf before participating in the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) are deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of operations in Iraq (news - web sites). PHOTO TAKEN MARCH 3 NO SALES REUTERS/U.S. Navy (news - web sites)/Brien Aho/Handout

Wed Mar 3,10:44 AM ET
Tiger Woods (news) tees off from the helipad of Dubai's Burj Al-Arab hotel March 2, 2004. Woods will be competing in the Desert Classic tournament, which starts March 4. ( David Cannon/Dubai Desert Classic via Reuters)

[VOA]

Woods was flown by military jet to the Navy carrier the USS George Washington

I checked the linked article...no photo of Tiger in a flight suit!

...just a photo of him in golfing-duds being shown the cockpit of the F-18.

[KSCITYBOY]

Tiger & his dad's support for our guys in uniform is fantastic.. I am not a Tiger fan (in Golf) but at every turn he proves he is a great guy.

[Balata]

LOL! The ultimate tee.

[smadurski]

I wonder if Tiger will show up on a top ten list of a certain DUmb website.

[gooleyman]

BohDaThone: Who cannot like this guy?

CasearianDaoist: Liberals?

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I don't even think liberals tackle Tiger.  He's pure class.  May God continue to steer him in the right direction.  AND protect him.

[Prime Choice]

Talent and class. A rare and welcome combination. Bump!