Tiger Woods is considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time. The 47-year-old has had his ups and downs and endured several lean periods in his career, not to mention a high-profile scandal that led to his divorce, but he’s made several strong comebacks and shown no sign of having his back still returns in the course.
At age 39, Woods was interviewed by journalist Lorne Rubenstein for Time. This interview came when many people thought that the legend would probably give up his career after turning 40.
He was also struggling with a lot of injuries at this point, but we all know how he brilliantly won the 2019 Masters.
It was an unprecedented return to glory for Tiger Woods at the 2019 Masters
It was an unprecedented return to glory for Tiger Woods at the 2019 Masters
This interview was taped four years before this historic comeback, so let’s recap what the legend had to say back then.
In 2015, Woods was plagued by a series of back spasms. As a result, he missed a large number of tournaments. He also underwent major surgery, after which he did not play for 16 months.
Tiger Woods’ injury woes make him irrelevant as the 2015 champion approaches: Tiger Woods has seemingly built a cult…binged.it/16QWbFw
Tiger Woods’ injury woes make him irrelevant as the 2015 champion approaches: Tiger Woods has seemingly built a cult…binged.it/16QWbFw
Woods’ injuries
When asked how he was holding up, Woods said he “had just started running.”
He said to Rubenstein:
“I go for a 10-minute walk on the beach. That’s it. Then I come home and lay back on the couch or a bed.”
He also mentioned that there was no timetable for recovery from this particular injury and we now know how long it took him to get back to full health.
How was Woods injured and what saved him?
He also told Time how he was injured, explaining how he was injured and lying on the ground after hitting a certain shot without being able to call for help. After all, his daughter was the savior.
“I practiced at home,” he said in an interview. “I hit a flop shot over the bunker and it just hit the nerve. And I was down. I didn’t bring my cell phone. I was practicing outside and I landed on the ground and I couldn’t call anyone and I couldn’t move.
“Well thank goodness my daughter is a daddy girl and she always wants to hang out. She came out and said, ‘Daddy, what are you doing on the floor?’ I said, “Sam, thank God you’re here. Can you tell the guys inside to try and get the cart out so they can help me back up?” She says, “What’s up?” I said, ‘My back isn’t very good.’ She says: ‘Again?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, one more time, Sam. Can you get these guys, please?’”
The importance of children in Wood’s life
Speaking further about his children, the golfer mentioned that he doesn’t care if he has to give up golf because of his injuries because for him the most important thing in life is spending time with his children and watching them grow.
“But the most important thing is that I can have a life with my children,” he said. “It’s more important than golf. That’s clear to me now.
“Watching my kids and playing sports and growing up and participating and even teaching them how to get better, oh my god, it gives me so much joy. I can’t imagine not being able to do that as I get older.”
Tiger Woods hugged his father after winning the Masters for the first time in 1997. His father died in 2006.
22 years later, he hugged his son Charlie in the same spot after winning the 2019 Masters. Chills. (above @Tiger Woods)
Tiger Woods hugged his father after winning the Masters for the first time in 1997. His father died in 2006. 22 years later, he hugged his son Charlie in the same spot after winning the 2019 Masters. Chills. (via @Tiger Woods)
When asked by Rubenstein if spending time with the kids was more important than winning a golf tournament, he said:
“Absolutely. No doubt. My children are more important to me than anything else in the world.”
Woods also admitted to the Times that it was the injury that made him see his life and goals from a different perspective, before which he might not have realized their importance in his life.
When asked why this realization had not hit him earlier, Woods said to Rubenstein:
“First of all, the kids were young, they weren’t interested in that many things. Before that, when I didn’t have kids, it never crossed my mind. Are you kidding me? What should I do, go bass fishing? No.
“But now to watch my kids and play sports and grow up and participate and even teach them how to get better, oh my god, it brings me so much joy. I can’t imagine not being able to do that. “I’m getting older.”
.@Tiger Woods sits down with Tom Rinaldi and explains just how much it means to win #The master while his kids watch, enjoy his road to injury recovery and his 15th major.
.@Tiger Woods sits down with Tom Rinaldi and explains just how much it means to win #The master while his kids watch, enjoy his road to injury recovery and his 15th major.
Woods also emphasized in the interview that he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he wasn’t part of his children’s formative years:
“It’s more important to me to be with my kids. I don’t know how I could live with not being able to participate in my children’s lives in such a way. This is something special for me. Now I know how my dad felt if we went out there and played nine holes in the dark.”
Source : www.sportskeeda.com