Thursday, June 20,
2002
Tiger Woods' gift
to children goes far beyond the golf course
By Claude Lewis
Knight Ridder Newspapers
In the six years
since he turned pro, Tiger Woods has obviously become one of the
greatest athletes in history. He already is the best golfer of
his era and threatens to become the best ever.
In the process of
his growth and development, he has helped smash many of the long-standing
barriers in golf that had kept many youngsters on the rough gazing
at the green.
Through Woods' magnificent
athleticism and skills, many beginning golfers are learning that
through practice, patience, determination, discipline and focus,
they can mimic his success not only on the golf course, but in
the arena of life as well.
With the skyrocketing
divorce rate in the United States, it's difficult to determine
just how many kids today are growing up in broken homes. As is
true with many athletes, Woods has become one of the best role
models for adolescents in desperate need of heroes. At 26, Tiger
is still young, but he has become a sort of unspoken surrogate
father for countless children without a chance.
By watching him dominate
professional golf on television, many youngsters are being inspired
by his play and his general decorum. Some are beginning to discover
that they can achieve by doing the difficult work that is necessary
for success.
Two days ago, a bevy
of kids from Philadelphia arrived in Florida where they looked
forward to meeting "The Man."
"No question
about it," one boy exulted on television. "Tiger's The
Man." The boy swung an imaginary club and added "I hope
I might get a tip or two from him about my game."
Another youngster,
wearing a white baseball cap said "It's going to be great
meeting him, just shaking his hand. It'll be an honor to shake
the hand of the greatest golfer going."
"I want to be
just like him," he said. "I never thought about golf
before. But now, who knows?" the boy said with hope in his
voice. "If Tiger can do it, maybe I can too."
Woods has won eight
Grand Slam titles. He won them faster than any one else in the
game's history. His first Masters victory was in 1997. He picked
up his second and third Masters titles in 2001 and 2002. He earned
PGA championships in 1999 and 2000. He won the British Open in
2000 and carried home the trophies in the U.S. Open in 2000 and
again this week.
It was the first
time the U.S. Open was played on a truly public golf course. The
Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Long Island proved to be
pretty tough terrain. On Sunday, Woods was the only player to
break par at 3-under 277.
Tiger has won four
majors in a year, but golf purists insist he didn't do it in a
calendar year. Many believe he has a great chance this year to
win four major titles for the Grand Slam in the same calendar
year. If he picks up the British Open in five weeks and goes on
the win the PGA again, he'll create even more golf history.
But even if Tiger
doesn't win four majors this year, he certainly has a lot of time
left to do it before his career ends. He's moving so fast, it's
difficult to think of anything he can't accomplish in golf.
But inspiring the
millions of kids who are watching him might be his greatest contribution
to the game. All over the world there are boys -- and girls --
who want to be like Tiger Woods. Perhaps none of them will ever
be as great as he is, but at least they are now willing to challenge
his massive gifts. The first step in achieving greatness at anything
is believing you can do it.
All these young golfers
ever needed was a chance to play at a higher level and Tiger Woods,
roaring his way through golf history, is helping to make it possible.
------
Claude Lewis is a
retired columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Readers may write
to him at the Philadelphia Inquirer, 400 North Broad Street, Philadelphia,
Pa. 19130; or via e-mail at Clewis97@ptd.net.
------
© 2002, The
Philadelphia Inquirer.
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