Read a few days back about you getting arrested for a DUI case on alcohol or drug abuse & the whole media circus which followed, hence this post on my thoughts and views.
Your story represents a story of #glory, #hope, #struggle, #truimp, #excellence to be the best at the game of #golf. Other Americans sports icons like Mohammad Ali, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Chris Evert Lloyd, Martina Navratilova, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras came before you & kept me hooked whether it was boxing, tennis or basketball. I still remember back than #golf had been played by elite class of society, the sport of the rich boys & girls. I had other influences too but they came from mainly from the Music or Entertainment World. I loved sports as a child as my school St. Francis D'Assisi had a good football team in the junior & sub-junior levels among Mumbai schools. Also classmate & close buddy Raphael(Rafi) was a champion athlete with records in the 200, 400 & 800 meters races. Those days television in #INDIA started showing Wimbledon live. We had just won the cricket World Cup.
As time passed & i had finished my Engineering course and started working as a Computer Programmer. Enough on me & lets come back to main topic.
You were a child prodigy and simply loved playing & winning from a very young age. Your father Earl Woods knew how super-talented & special you were. He played a major part in shaping you during those formative years. While you played tournaments around the country, you graduated from Western High, Anaheim. Your golfing super achievements gained easy access to all the top universities, you choose Stanford & selecting to major in Economics.You had just turned professional to play in the PGA Tour. Within a year in 1996, you were named the "Rookie of the Year". People around the world started taking interest in you & abilities. We simply fell in love with your skills on the greens & won everything that was out there. I need to mention here these were the days when there was no Internet or social media like Orkut, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. Newspapers & Sportstar magazine were the only source of these news. #money & #fame came your way. Huge endorsement deals were struck with Nike, Titleist, American Express, #Accenture, General Motors & other companies. Forbes had even named you as the 2nd richest person of color
behind the legendary Oprah Winfrey.
To see you fall as an hero first in #Nov2009, when a newspaper carried out prints of your affair & a possible marriage breakdown.
It was hard on everybody as fans across the globe including myself didn't expect this behavior from our Hero & Idol. Must admit here you are a damn good looking & handsome man with your exotic family background. You broke many a woman's hearts when you announced your engagement to Erin Nordegren. She probably made many enemies on that day, but we were very happy for you. We thought you had found a partner to share your awesome & interesting life. It can get lonely & tough out there on the Tour as you compete & strive to be the greatest ever. Eventually the marriage happened. So it came as a shock when this multiple affair mess played out in the media. It's easy to comment/judge in hindsight from a layman's perspective. Fame, money & power makes it easy to fall into these material traps.
You came out with an public apology where you mentioned taking professional help on your flaws & getting behind your faith or religion #Buddhism from which you had swayed away for a brief while.
#Love, #Affection & #Guidance of family must have been very inspiring & helpful during this difficult phase in your life.
Human beings make mistakes & I guess it is that which differentiates us from the animal kingdom, I quickly forgot about this nasty incident & continued my 100% support & in you.
I want to briefly touch upon the subject of #addiction. It takes various forms like #smoking, #alcoholism, #sex, #drugs & the list goes on & on. Each of this is still treated like taboo or no go-zone in #society. The people affected by it are looked down up & demonized, whether its in advanced Western societies of the First World or poor nations of the Third World in Asia, Africa or South America. Politicians & Religious leaders have always used it to sway the general public opinion towards them especially during regime changes.
Apart from golf you got yourself involved with charities, multimedia games, design & writing.
TW Foundation has a Learning center & provides with golf-related assistance, college-access programs for under privileged children.
TW Design assists in designing golf courses across the globe.
Writing for golf websites, magazines & manuals has been a huge hit.
I hope these new pursuits have helped during the messy #divorce & kept you focused on living the #Life that you wanted for yourself & your children Sam & Charlie.
"Daddy can't give up" for his babies...as they say.
But the most important thing was we fans wanted to see you play golf & whole process was getting delayed. I guess you felt your game was not at the professional level required to get back to winning ways. Age & injuries were catching up along with the new generation of players around the world whom you inspired. They all wanted to be the next #Tiger, #Arnold Palmer, #Jack Nicklaus.
This new DUI Case of May2017, makes it hard on your fan base & me as your biggest #FAN. But champion I haven't given up on you. I don't want you winning more tournaments or cups, just be a better person for yourself & your little children.
Your greatness & mastery over the game of #Golf will remain forever....I am a firm believer in #Nike "JUST DO IT" Philosophy.
