Everyone is aware of Tiger Woods’s impressive golf record, but what’s less known is his tireless work off the course. Through the TGR Foundation, which he founded in 1996, Woods is dedicated to empowering young people to reach their full potential. Named after his late father, Earl Woods, the foundation has already made a significant impact, having reached two million kids through its in-person and online programs. But for Woods and foundation president Gordon McNeill, simply reaching numbers isn’t enough – they’re committed to creating meaningful, transformative experiences that inspire kids to give back to their communities.
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The Earl Woods Scholar program is a shining example of this mission. Established in 2006 to honor Earl’s legacy, the program supports high-achieving, financially needy students with a comprehensive approach that includes one-to-one mentoring, college guidance, and ongoing support. Today, Woods took it to Instagram to post a picture of his dad as a tribute of his foundation completing 28 years! “Today is @TGRFound’s 28th Anniversary. I’m so proud of the work we have done to help kids chase after their dreams through our TGR Learning Labs and education programs”, he wrote.
But this shouldn’t come off as a surprise to anyone as we all know how much Woods loves his late father and that is the reason he has been seen crying in various joyous ocasions.
Tiger Woods broke down after winning the US Open without his father
The 2006 victory at Royal Liverpool was more than just a win for Woods – it was a testament to the lessons he learned from his father, Earl Woods. Earl, a strict mentor, taught Woods to be a “cold-blooded 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er” on the golf course, blocking out emotions to achieve greatness. This tactic served Woods well, but it came at a cost. As Earl’s health declined, Woods’s emotional walls began to crack. Just two months after Earl’s passing, Woods won The Open, holding back tears until the final putt. Then, in a rare moment of vulnerability, he broke down in the arms of his caddie, Steve Williams.
Earl Woods’s unorthodox methods had molded Woods into a golfing phenomenon, but some questioned the toll it took on his personality. Did his unique upbringing make him struggle with empathy? Woods once revealed that Earl would push him to the breaking point, then back off, gradually increasing the pressure until emotions no longer fazed him. But emotions don’t disappear; they resurface. At Hoylake, Woods channeled Earl’s teachings to repress his grief, but when the mental walls came down, his tears flowed.
Its pretty clear that even tho it has been quite some time since Woods lost his father, he still misses the moments and memories he shared with him. To Earl Woods!
