PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Tiger Woods was set to be inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame on Wednesday night time as a lot for what he’s carried out for the sport as for what he’s carried out on the golf course, which is win a report 82 profession tournaments, together with 15 main championships.
Woods’ outstanding legacy is as a lot concerning the present group of stars who sit atop the world rankings in the present day as it’s concerning the 5 Masters inexperienced jackets he’s gained and his three U.S. Open, three British Open and 4 PGA Championship victories.
Sure, Woods was probably the most dominant participant the sport has ever seen, however that dominance, coupled together with his pores and skin colour including variety to an all-too-white sport impressed the likes of Jon Rahm, who’s at present No. 1 on this planet, Collin Morikawa (No. 2), Rory McIlroy (No. 6) Dustin Johnson (No. 9), Xander Schauffele (No. 8) and so many extra to chase his tracks.
Title a present prime participant and he was both drawn to the sport or not less than influenced by Woods.
That’s why Woods, at age 46, was inducted Wednesday night time, offered by his 14-year-old daughter, Sam, in a jarring juxtaposition of the time, place and second in his life.
Woods’ induction ceremony passed off within the newly constructed PGA Tour headquarters, which stand about three par-5s away from the previous TPC Sawgrass clubhouse, the place 12 years in the past he participated in probably the most uncomfortable press convention of his life.
In February 2010, some three months after his well-known automotive crash into the Isleworth hearth hydrant that uncovered his marital infidelity, Woods stood in entrance of these terrible blue curtains and advised the world in a wildly awkward 14-minute assertion: “I do know I’ve bitterly dissatisfied all of you. For all that I’ve carried out, I’m so sorry.”
Woods has nothing for which to apologize about something he’s carried out on the golf course. Simply ask the generations of gamers who have been impacted by him.
“In addition to entertaining all of us for 20 years and doing unbelievable issues, he impressed the technology of gamers you’re seeing in the present day,’’ Rahm mentioned.
“You have got on the prime of the world [currently] quite a lot of 20-some-year-olds and early 30-year-olds that grew up watching him and making an attempt to repeat him, and I believe that’s why the extent of the sport is as excessive as it’s proper now.
“It’s a testomony to what he was in a position to accomplish and the way many individuals he was in a position to encourage.’’
Morikawa mentioned, “He’s every part. I grew up watching him. I needed to compete in opposition to him. You needed to be No. 1 on this planet. I simply needed to fulfill him.’’
Now the Morikawa, who’s gained two main championships previously three years, is thrashing his idol.
“After I was in highschool, golf was nonetheless type of probably not thought of a cool sport to play,’’ Johnson mentioned. “You type of have been a dork in case you performed golf. However Tiger made it truly a cool sport to play. Everyone needed to be like Tiger. He was an enormous a part of me taking part in golf and desirous to get out on Tour and play in opposition to him.’’
McIlroy mentioned he “feels lucky’’ to have gotten to know Woods.
“There may be this kind of saying that you just shouldn’t meet your heroes, and Tiger was my hero after I met him, and he lived as much as expectations,’’ McIlroy mentioned. “He’s been an inspiration for therefore many people which can be out right here taking part in this golf event this week. All of us which can be taking part in right here this week need to thank Tiger for the place the sport is and the place the [PGA] Tour is.’’
Justin Thomas described what Woods has carried out for the sport as “monumental.’’
“I don’t suppose I might even come near placing it into phrases,’’ Thomas mentioned. “He’s been an enormous impression and affect on me.’’
Rely Cantlay as influenced by Woods as Thomas.
“I believe each professional out right here owes a debt of gratitude to Tiger as a result of this sport wouldn’t be the place it’s in the present day with out his impression,’’ Cantlay mentioned.
“He’s created what golf is in the present day and we’re all merchandise of it,” Schauffele mentioned. “He’s to thank for even this [Players Championship] purse being $20 million. Tiger Woods has a chunk of that. He’s reworked golf.”
Scottie Scheffler, who’s ranked No. 5 and gained final week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, mentioned he used to observe YouTube highlights of Woods in an try and emulate him on the golf course.
“He’s an inspiration for all of us simply the best way he performs golf,” Scheffler mentioned. “It’s fairly ridiculous. His statistics and the best way he performs and swings, it’s so radically completely different from the remainder of us how we play golf and strategy the sport. It’s actually laborious to place into phrases what he’s carried out for us out right here.
“He’s completely modified our lives.’’
Woods’ life modified somewhat bit Wednesday night time together with his deserved induction.