3. He really likes to win.
In a previous GMA appearance alongside Strahan, Woods won a putting contest under questionable conditions.
“I won, yes.” Woods insisted in the latest interview, referring back to the event. “No you didn’t! We were tied!” Strahan objected. Yeah, it’s a staged moment, but it was a telling one. As is what followed:
Woods tossed down his ball on the 18th green at Liberty National, a 20-foot curler away from the pin. As he rolled towards the hole, Strahan voiced his fears. “Oh, no. You’d better not,” he yelled, laughing. But this thing was destined for the bottom of the cup. Bingo.
4. There’s no rust on his celebration game.
Woods has told the public he’s been healthy before — that in itself is no guarantee of anything. But the most convincing sign of his health was probably the way he celebrated holing this putt. The classic Tiger shuffle, which usually goes into a big-time fist pump, this time ended with a putter flip.
And not just any putter flip. Watch that putter land. Soft as a feather, perfectly rotated so that it hits the ground all at the same time. Some Liberty National members might receive a stern letter for throwing their putter on the 18th green, but when Woods does it, it’s a work of art.
It’s Woods’ offseason, but that celebration game? Midseason form.
5. He wants his foundation’s priorities in line with his own.
Woods explained the shift in his foundation’s priorities from teaching golf to focusing on education, science and technology.
“I wanted to go back to how I was raised. It was family, school and then sports. Why is golf out front? We should flip it.”
Woods also talked about the Earl Woods Scholars, many of whom have no family members who have been to college. Earl Woods Scholarships are given to high-potential students with demonstrated need and a commitment to community service. These students receive mentors in addition to scholarship funding in honor of Woods’ father.
“We didn’t think there were going to be that many kids that had never been to college in their entire family history,” Woods said. “And so that’s what drives us to this day.”
You can see the complete interview below.
