Tiger Woods headlines the 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame class along with Susie Maxwell Berning, Tim Finchem and Marion Hollins, who will all be celebrated and profiled during GOLF Channel’s exclusive live coverage of their induction ceremony at the PGA TOUR’s ‘Global Home’ headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Wednesday, March 9, 2022 beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
In late autumn of 1994, I had settled into my sophomore year as a senior writer for Golf World Magazine when the assignment of a lifetime fell into my lap. After considerable deliberation, the editors had decided to name Tiger Woods, fresh off a U.S. Amateur Championship victory over Trip Kuehne, the magazine’s Man of the Year. I was given the nod to write the cover story.
Thus began the saga of T.W. & Petey.
Armed with a notepad full of questions for the phenom, I boarded a flight to San Jose, Ca., and Stanford University’s golf course for the much-anticipated interview with the Stanford freshman. I met him in the snack bar where he ordered a six-stack of pancakes and two glasses of orange juice.
My questions were met with noticeable suspicion and one-word answers. Yes or no and a puzzled look followed by “what do you mean by that?’’
After burning 10 minutes of my requested 45-minute interview, I had absolutely nothing with which to work. Suddenly, Tiger flashed that famously huge grin and proceeded to provide the most insightful answers to my queries. Obviously, I had passed the acid test.
We finished the interview and headed to the practice tee where Tiger began showing off his skills. High fades, low draws and a variety of bullets pierced the pale blue sky. I nodded approval, however, having witnessed the ball-striking prowess of Chuck Thorpe, James Black, Charlie Owens and other stalwarts on the black golf tour, I was hardly impressed.
As I departed, Tiger wished me well and told me to write a good story. Apparently, the cover piece was satisfactory, at least to Earl Woods, who called to praise my effort. “I really enjoyed the piece on Tiger,’’ he said. “How busy are you?’’
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I informed Earl that my schedule was loaded with various beats and assignments. “Why do you ask?’’ I asked.
“Well,’’ began Earl, “I’m thinking about writing a book and thought I’d ask you to help me write it.’’
“On second thought, Earl, I’m not that busy,’’ I said.
Training A Tiger was released in April of 1997, the day after Tiger became the youngest Masters champion. There on national TV were Earl, Tiger and Oprah Winfrey gushing over Tiger’s historic victory and the publishing of Earl’s seminal book on raising a champion in golf and life. Instant bestseller and instant fame for yours truly as the co-author.
From that moment on, I was entrenched in Tigermania as an insider who witnessed up close and personal the phenomenal career of arguably the greatest of all time.
On Wednesday evening, Tiger will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame becoming only the second person of African American descent to receive such an honor. Charlie Sifford was inducted in the Lifetime Achievement category in 2004. Other worthy candidates like 12-time PGA Tour winner Calvin Peete and legendary United Golfers Association tour standout Ted Rhodes have consistently failed to receive enough support for induction. I fear that Tiger might be the last inductee since, to my knowledge, the selectors are devoid of even one African American to nominate a prospective honoree.
But I digress. I’m certain that Tiger’s family, especially his mother Kultida, are beaming with pride. As for me, it was an unforgettable ride from the early days of chain-smoking to calm my nerves as I tracked every swing during two U.S. Amateurs and later trudged along inside the ropes at dozens of PGA Tour events, awestruck by Tiger’s unmatched talent and will to win.
As I, like millions of others, watch the induction ceremony from afar, my mind will surely be flooded with images of Earl sitting on a hill totally unconcerned over his son’s play, and Tida walking as fast as her little legs would carry her in support of her only child, and TW slyly whispering some smartass comment to me, Petey, and laughing at my equally smartass comeback. What a time. What a time.
ABOUT PETE McDANIEL
Pete McDaniel is a veteran golf writer and best-selling author. His blogs and books are available at petemcdaniel.com
Comments on this topic may be emailed directly to Pete at gdmcd@aol.com or visit his Facebook page.
