Posted on 07/06/2007 4:56:01 AM PDT by Slim Pickens
If Tiger Woods weren’t a professional golfer, he’d probably be a member of the military’s special operations community, Woods told reporters today at the Congressional Country Club here today.
“I told Dad if I didn’t make it (as a golfer) in the first few years, that’s probably where I’d go,” he said. “I’d probably end up going into the military – and I don’t know what branch – but I’d certainly want to be in the special operations community.”
Indeed, Woods underwent four days of Army special operations training at Fort Bragg, N.C., in conjunction with a golf clinic he hosted there in April 2004. Woods’ late father, Earl Woods, wore the Green Beret for 12 years as a Special Forces soldier during his 20-year Army career.
“That just seems to be more of a fit considering what I grew up with, and I certainly understand it and can relate to it,” Tiger said. “But somehow I ended up here. I made a couple putts in those years.”
Woods is hosting the AT&T National golf tournament here July 3-8. Besides “getting a W” – or winning the tournament – Woods said honoring the men and women serving America was one of his overarching goals as the event’s host.
Tomorrow morning, the world’s top-rated professional golfer will play a practice round, called the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am, with pairings that include Army Sgt. Maj. Mia Kelly and Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Amor.
Woods said he is excited about playing alongside the servicemembers.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve seen their bios, but I haven’t met anyone yet, so I’m really looking forward to that, and hopefully I won’t get beat too bad.”
The golfer said that when he turned 10 years old, he began to play on military golf courses, using his status as a “military dependent.”
“I had my little card, and I could flash that and get on the golf course,” he said. “The only frustrating thing was a lot of military bases had an age limit of 10. I thought I could play before that.”
Woods has since hit the links on many of America’s military courses, and he especially likes the Air Force Academy’s course in Colorado Springs, Colo., he said.
“I’ve played a lot of military facilities around the country. For one, they’re cheaper,” he joked.
As a tribute to golf fans in the military, Woods has arranged for tournament sponsors to distribute 30,000 free tickets to active U.S. military personnel. Those attending will be able to enjoy the view from a special seating gallery, and snack on discounted concessions after showing military identification.
“I know I can’t serve with them, but I just want to say, ‘Thank you’ in some way, and this is our way of being able to do that,” he said.
“Even though my dad was retired, I basically grew up on a military base, and just understanding the commitment that it takes each and every day, for the service men and women, what they do for us, I just think that it was something that should be honored,” Woods said.
What a thoughtful gesture.
I’m sure his wife is glad he’s not in the Special Forces :-).
Gridlock: I Wanna Be Tiger Woods...
In spite of the support he is giving to the D.C military by giving away free tickets, cynical me thinks it’s nothing more than pandering.
BTW: How many trips has he made to Iraq to visit the troops?
Yup, he sure is. I had to laugh at his comment about military base courses being cheaper, like he'll ever have to pull out his wallet to pay for a round of golf.........
I'm not sure it really matters how many times he's gone to Iraq to visit the troops. What would he be doing there anyway? He's an athlete, not a performer. Maybe he could hit a few drives off the tarmac at LSA Anaconda?? That would really get the guys and gals going...
I think he's sincere about caring about the troops and gestures such as those in the article proof enough for me.
Pandering to who?
Check out his bio, it seems he has an extensive history of "pandering".......You're not related to archiebunkeronsteroids are you?
Sure enough. Oops!
They were cheaper back when he was learning the game. That's important, because the only way to learn is by playing, and the only way to play is to pay.
I, myself, have about $25,000 in Greens Fees invested, with nothing to show for it...
You're hard to please.
Given his background I'm gonna' give Tiger the benefit of the doubt, which is that he doesn't feel worthy of it.
David Letterman has made a couple of trips to Iraq to visit the troops. What can be assumed from those gestures? I’m not sure but what can be assumed because Tiger isn’t going as you seem to think is required to fully support the troops.
Dude, come on. His dad was a Green Beret, and Tiger spent a pretty fair chunk of his childhood on Army bases. He’s not pandering to anybody. He knows the score and is genuinely supportive of and empathetic with the armed forces. Jeez, some people are never happy.
I hear you. That's not going to stop me from investing another $59 tomorrow though... How I love to hate that game...
Al Franken has made trips to visit the troops in Iraq, but that doesn't make him my hero.
Agreed. I can’t think of a single thing this guys has done or said that he should be ashamed of.
Certainly a great role model for kids.
Oh my...you just reminded me...I don't even want to think of how much I've "invested" in the game!
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