Tiger Woods revealed the two questions he always asked on his way up in golf whenever he faced racial prejudice.
Woods is widely celebrated as arguably the greatest golfer in history, having triumphed over numerous obstacles that threatened to thwart his path to golfing glory.
Among these challenges was the harsh reality of being denied access to spaces simply because of the colour of his skin.
During his emotional 2022 Golf Hall of Fame induction, he articulated how this injustice only fueled his determination.
“Playing at some of these golf courses, I was not allowed in the clubhouses where all the other juniors were; the colour of my skin dictated that,” he explained.
“As I got older, that drove me even more. So as I was denied access to the clubhouses, that’s fine, I put my shoes on here in a parking lot. I asked two questions only. That was it.
“Where was the first tee and what was the course record? Not complicated.”
Woods made his professional debut in 1996, going on to win 15 major championships, second only to the legendary Jack Nicklaus.
He stands proudly alongside Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour wins, with an impressive tally of 82, and uniquely held all four major championship titles at once.
One of his most transformative victories unfolded in Augusta in 1997.
At just 21 years old, he made history as the youngest player ever to win the Masters, claiming victory at a staggering 18-under-par and with a 12-stroke lead.
Woods was the first black man to conquer a golf course that had been compelled to welcome black members a mere seven years earlier.
The Masters had barred black players from competing until 1975, and caddies were exclusively black until 1982. It was there that he etched his name into history.
This was a victory for black Americans everywhere, something that was not lost on Woods.
He expressed gratitude towards Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder, and Ted Rhodes, three pioneering black golfers who carved the path for Woods and have often been overlooked for their monumental contributions in expanding the reach of golf to an entire community.
Before their time, John Shippen was the first black man to compete at the US Open, finishing fifth in 1896. Meanwhile, George Franklin Grant was the ingenious mind behind the invention of the golf tee in 1899.
In the wake of his 1997 victory at Augusta, Woods appeared in a famous Nike ad, poignantly stating: “There are still courses in the United States that I am not allowed to play on because of the color of my skin.”
His father, Earl, hailed from African-American, Chinese, and Native American roots, while his mother, Tida – who recently died – was of Thai, Chinese, and Dutch descent.
Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational in February as he continued to grieve the loss of his mother.
After his Jupiter Golf Links team were eliminated from TGL, the 49-year-old suggested he was not planning on teeing it up any time soon.
“This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed, so I haven’t really gotten into it,” Woods said.
“My heart is not really into practicing right now. I’ve had so many other things to do with the TOUR and trying to do other things.
“Once I start probably feeling a little bit better and start getting into it, I’ll start looking at the schedule.”
