Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods

Charlie Sifford, the man who broke down Golf's color barrier can take part of the responsibility for Tiger Woods' success... and there's been a lot of it. “(Tiger) held all four major Grand Slam titles in 2001 at the same time ever since Bobby Jones in 1930,” (Woods). He also won three Masters, and dozens of other tournaments. Tiger Woods, a person who breaks barriers, opens new paths for other people, and a role model (before the infamous cheating dispute) to others who that look up to him.

Tiger Woods demonstrated his golfing ability and rise to be a role model at a young age. Eldrick Woods was born on December 30, 1975 in Cypress, California. “Tiger got into golf because his dad, Earl Woods, taught him the rules of golf when he was only ten months old,” (ED. Irene Natividad). “He also won his first formal competition at eight-years-old,” (Rooney). In 1994, he entered Stanford University as a freshman on a full golfing scholarship. “Sports Illustrated in 1996 named him “’Sportsman of the Year,’” (qtd. Rooney). April 30, 1997, “Woods made golfing history when he won the prestigious Masters tournament of golf,” (Rooney). Over the years he has demonstrated his golfing abilities from his years as a young boy to late as a professional golfer.

Woods is a hero because of his ability to break current racial barriers. Tiger Woods has done something that nobody else of his ethnicity has ever done before, but also dedicated “to be the Michael Jordan of golf,” (qtd. ED. Irene Natividad). “Tiger Woods was the youngest man ever, and the first man of color to win the Masters tournament of golf,” (Rooney). This shows that Tiger, or anybody of any race, gender, or heritage to win anything, big or small, if they have the dedication to do so. “He also was the first golfer since Bobby Jones in 1930 to hold all four major Grand Slam titles simultaneously,” (Woods). Woods continued to play the game of golf successfully because he has motivation from himself, his dad, his mother, and his fans. He also wants to be good at what he does. Tiger Woods has shown that no matter whom you are, what race you are, how old you are, you can do anything you want if you have the determination to do so.

Woods has put things [paths] into places where they weren’t available to other people in the world. “Woods opened a $25 million children’s learning center in Anaheim, California,” (Rooney). This shows that Woods is a person who cares about the education of kids as much as the game of golf, give or take. Tiger would drop a lot of money so kids can get the education that they deserve. “…in 2006, Tiger launched a golf-course design company called, Tiger Woods Design,” (Rooney). Besides donating a lot of money for schools, he would also make a company so people could develop golf courses near where they live so they could play golf. Woods is a person that doesn’t only care about the game of golf; he also cares about educating children.

Tiger Woods, a person who breaks barriers, opens new paths for other people, and a role model (before the infamous cheating dispute) to others who look up to him. Woods is an inspiration because he credits other people for his achievements and he doesn’t disgrace other people for what he does wrong. “He accepts all of the honors with grace and humility, but he also gives tributes to other black golfers who came before him and helped pave the way even when he was being treated like nothing,” (Rooney). This shows that he doesn’t take all the honors for himself but gives a lot of it to black golfers before him. Also it shows that Woods is a person that would share glory and valor with other people. “He also honored his mother [who is Asian] by reminding the world of his diverse ethnic background; he is African-American, Thai, Chinese, Native American, and Caucasian. He discouraged the press from labeling him exclusively as African-American, because it would show complete disregard for his mother’s Asian heritage,” (Rooney). This shows how Tiger wouldn’t disregard or disgrace anybody no matter who you are and where you came from. Woods is also a person that makes someone that nobody knows into a person that everybody knows. Tiger Woods, a person who is a ‘perfect’ golfer is also a person who credits other people for his achievements, who doesn’t disgraces other people, makes things [paths] available to people where they were absent, and also dedicates his life to excellence.