Tiger Woods was beaming when watching his daughter play soccer (Image: Getty)
Tiger Woods couldn’t hide his joy as he watched his daughter Sam Alexis Woods dominate on the football pitch, proving that the golf legend is her number one fan, even though she’s chosen a path different from his own. The 49-year-old sports superstar was all smiles in the stands at Benjamin High School, where 17-year-old Sam played a pivotal role in securing her team’s 2-1 victory over Lake Christian, catapulting them into the Florida Class 2A state championship game.
A video capturing proud grin as he observed his eldest child, who shines as a central defender, has gone viral, showcasing his full support for her passion for soccer instead of golf. Woods has openly spoken about Sam’s decision to steer clear of the golf course, attributing it to the negative associations she has with the sport due to his frequent absences during her early years.
In a heartfelt admission on ‘The Today Show’ last year, Tiger revealed: “She has, I think, a negative connotation to the game because at that time… when she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her.” The California-born champion acknowledged that this aversion allowed them to build a bond beyond the fairways, contrasting with his son Charlie, who is making waves as an up-and-coming amateur golfer.
“I had to pack, and I had to leave and I was gone for weeks and there was a negative connotation to it,” he disclosed. “So we developed our own relationship, our own rapport that’s outside of golf that we do things that don’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, we do everything golf-related. It’s very different,” reports .
Despite not taking to the sport herself, she’s been spotted supporting her father and brother as a caddy during the Pro-Am event at the PNC Championship, held at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.
The golf icon was filled with pride when watching his daughter from the stands (Image: @ESPNWestPalm /Youtube)
Woods also acknowledged his own regret over work-life balance, stating in a candid reflection aimed at his younger self: “I’d have to say be patient on scheduling, don’t do too much,” the then-41 year old advised during his 2017 discussion with . “[Get] different hobbies to get away from the game, have a life balance.”
The icon was back in action at the Seminole Pro-Member event on Monday in what was his first tournament since last year’s Open. During the non-televised event, Woods was partnered with the former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh in the 94-team pro-am but the pair could only finish a disappointing 54th after posting a score of 1-under 71.