Tiger, Tiger, Tiger... by: Michelle, TG Co-op Student
Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods... he's everywhere! However, don't think it's solely because of the 21 year-old's golfing skills. It's hard to believe that there's more to Tiger than golf, but, there is... Tiger himself! He's not merely the youngest Master's (a Professional Golf Tournament) winner ever, or the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, or the winner of three consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships (okay, I'll stop now) - he is one of, if not the, most tactful athlete. He's down to earth, smart and funny and most of all, he's a truly gracious winner. Even after racial comments (directed at Tiger from fellow golfer Fuzzy Zoeller), Tiger was quick to forgive and afterwards, had only positive things to say.
Tiger (Eldrick being his official name), is a golfer in a league of his own, but his kind nature and volunteer work, put him above the rest too. He spends countless hours working with youth of all races and sexes, helping them improve their golf game. This type of guidance, provides youth with sporting opportunities they otherwise probably wouldn't have had. With such community work and positive attitude towards virtually everything, Tiger has opened the eyes of many, showing that youth aren't as bad as many people would like to think.
It is evident that Tiger's talent is natural, but one can't help wonder whether or not golfing at the age of three may have groomed him to become the golfer he is today. Even at fourteen months old, Tiger sat in his highchair, and watched his father chip golf balls in the garage!
The mental side of sports are often the most difficult to overcome. All you competitive athletes out there, understand that. Through his dad's instruction, Tiger learned how to be consistently focused and to never let possible distractions interfere with his game. Knowing this, Tiger quickly learned that mistakes he made were never anyone's fault, but his own. If Tiger flubbed a shot because of a spectator's background conversation distracting him, then it was Tiger's fault for allowing himself to hear that person and allowing the distraction to occur. Now how's that for philosophy?!
Youth athletes are on the rise so watch out! Tiger is not the only young athlete winning major titles. Figure Skater Tara Lipinski was the youngest skater ever to win the World Figure Skating Championships , at the age of fourteen! And gymnast, Dominique Moceanu, was thirteen, when she won the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. So start practicing everyone! You never know when you may be the next Tiger, Tara or Dominique.
Here are some cool web pages (with LOTS of Tiger photos):http://masters96.com/stories/041497/gallery_36.html
http://masters96.com/gallery/.index.html#photos