LONDON, 10 Mar. (PA Media / dpa / EP) –
The American golfer Tiger Woods was excited on Wednesday for his entry into the World Golf Hall of Fame and recalled the importance of daily work and the importance of his family to be able to do what he liked the most.
“If you don’t go out there and put in the effort, number one, you’re not going to get the results, and number two, and more importantly, you don’t deserve it. You need to earn it, and that’s what defined my education, what defined my career. “said Woods, winner of 15 majors, during his speech and after being introduced by Sam, his 14-year-old daughter.
The Californian spoke of how golf became a passion when he was still a child and how he had the support of his parents, who even had to take out a second mortgage so he could play on the California junior circuit.
“This passion for playing golf was what drove me. I was never denied playing golf and I loved it, I had this burning desire to be able to express myself. One of the things Dad instilled in me is that you had to be twice as good to have half an opportunity”, remarked the ‘Tiger’, who still hasn’t played again after the traffic accident he had a year ago.
“Train hard, fight easy. That understanding, that push made training so hard and so difficult and so painful because I wanted to make sure I was ready by game time. My parents instilled in me that work ethic of fighting for what I believe, to pursue my dreams, to understand that they are not going to give you anything and that everything has to be earned”, added the American player.
Tiger Woods was the top name in the Hall of Fame class of 2022 which also included 11-time LPGA Tour winner and three-time US Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning, former PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem and the late Marion Hollins, the first woman to design outstanding golf courses. Among the names that paid tribute to the Californian during the evening were Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Jerry Rice, Annika Sorenstam and Jack Nicklaus.