1 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Welcome back to playing dirty sports Scandals. I'm your host 2 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: and barista extraordinaire, Jay Harris. Today I'm serving up the 3 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: story of one of the most iconic athletes of all time, 4 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods, a name synonymous with epic achievement. Tiger Woods 5 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: revolutionized the sport of golf and became a cultural phenomenon. 6 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: But just as prune and grapefruit fusion blends hit the 7 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: big time before becoming a dark note in most people's 8 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: recipe books, Tiger woods meteoric trajectory would be marred by scandal. Meh, Yeah, 9 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: the heyday of prune and grapefruit blends is over for 10 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: a reason. That's just h But what was the reason 11 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:03,279 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods starred in From the outset, it seemed unimaginable 12 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: that Tiger would miss his shot at consistent professional and 13 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: personal greatness. Born as Eldrick Tant Woods on December thirtieth, 14 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy five, in Cypress, California, Tiger quickly proved worthy 15 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: of his ferocious nickname under the guidance of his driven father, 16 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: Earl Woods. Earl was a retired U. S. Army officer 17 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: and named his son after his friend South Vietnamese colonel 18 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: of Wangdong Fong, known as Tiger Fong. I never knew 19 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: him as Tiger Pong. Tiger Woods would later explain, my 20 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 1: father would talk about him so much. He was tiger Ie, 21 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: the first Tiger. It was important to Earl Woods that 22 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: his son live up to his namesake, and it became 23 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: apparent early on that this kid had the natural talent 24 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: to do so. Earl recognized Tiger's athletic potential around the 25 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: same time most new parents are thrilled to just see 26 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: their little one sitting up independently. When Tiger was ten 27 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: months old, I unstrapped him out of his high chair 28 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: one day and he walked over and hit the ball. 29 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: Earl would later recall in the HBO documentary, Tiger I said, 30 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I've got something special. Earle wasn't wrong, 31 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: and he was certainly determined to help his son fulfill 32 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: his potential. Tiger's mother, called Tita Woods, who goes by Tita, 33 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: is originally from Thailand and made Earle's parental enthusiasm look tame. 34 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: Tiger confessed to USA Today in twenty seventeen that his mother, 35 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: Tita was the enforcer. My dad may have been in 36 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: the Special Forces, Tiger said, but I was never afraid 37 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: of him. My mom's still here and I'm still deathly 38 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: afraid of her. She's a very tough, tough lady, very demanding. 39 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: I love her so much, but she was tough. The 40 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: combination of Earl and Tita as his parents, plus his 41 00:02:55,720 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: incredible natural athleticism, made Tiger Woods a competitor out to 42 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: Gate at just eighteen months old. Earl took Tiger to 43 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: the practice range for the first time, where he emptied 44 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: an entire bucket of balls using a cut down iron. 45 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: Soon after, Tiger played his first hole, a par four 46 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: four hundred and ten yard challenge, where he recorded an eleven. 47 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: For you who are not golf officiados, that is a 48 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: remarkable feat for someone so young and for some of 49 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: us who are not so young. By the time Tiger 50 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: was two years old, he was already capturing significant media attention. 51 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: Los Angeles sports anchor Jim Hill featured him in a 52 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: segment declaring, this young man is going to be to 53 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: golf what Jimmy Connors and Chris Everett are to tennis. 54 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: Tiger was also on The Mike Douglas Show, where he 55 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: wowed audiences by putting on an exhibition alongside comedian Bob 56 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: Hope at three years old, when most kids are first 57 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: learning how to catch a ball and dress themselves, Tiger 58 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: broke fifty on nine holes for the first time, shooting 59 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: a forty eight on the Destroyer course at the Navy Facility. 60 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: To put this into perspective, it's an achievement that even 61 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: golf legends like Jack Nicholas didn't accomplish until they were 62 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: much older. Earl and Tita had a full time force 63 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: of nature on their hands with toddler Tiger, and they 64 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: knew he needed professional guidance. Tiger's parents found him his 65 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: first pro golf teacher, Rudy Durant, in nineteen eighty. Back then, 66 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: Rudy was an assistant pro at Hartwell Golf Course, a 67 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: collection of petit par three's in Long Beach, California. He 68 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: ran a junior golf program for one hundred kids, and 69 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: when Tiger showed up as his youngest participant, Rudy didn't 70 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: know what to expect, but it didn't take long for 71 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: tiny Tiger to become Rudy Durand's biggest focus. The coach 72 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: remembers being immediately impressed, saying he was blown away by 73 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: Tiger's swing. And it wasn't just Tiger's skills that far 74 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: exceeded his years. His fiercely competitive nature began to emerge 75 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: as well. His mother Tita, observed that he would quote 76 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: show a bit of temper when he didn't make a part, 77 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: and Rudy duran told golf dot Com how Tiger would 78 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: be frustrated by his physical limitations at four and a 79 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: half years old, turning to strategy to overcome his age 80 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: related challenges. By the time he was five years old, 81 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods had his first set of clubs properly fitted 82 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: by Rudy Durant, and he was ready to take his 83 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: game to the next level. Tiger's accomplishments piled up. At 84 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: age six, he played in a two hole exhibition with 85 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: golf legend Sam Snead, finishing just one stroke behind him. 86 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: He then entered the Optimist Junior World ten and Under 87 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: division in San Diego, where he finished eighth out of 88 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: a field of one hundred and fifty. At age eight, 89 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: Tiger won his first Optimist Junior World title. He would 90 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: win it again at age nine. There was no doubt 91 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: about it. Tiger Woods was a bonafide golf prodigy before 92 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: his tenth birthday. Everyone saw greatness written into his future. 93 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: Even a Buddhist monk on a family trip to Thailand 94 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:18,119 Speaker 1: would tell Tita that her son was special. As Tiger grew, 95 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: his talent grew with him. He dominated the junior golf circuit, 96 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: winning the Optimist International Junior Championship six times, and at 97 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,559 Speaker 1: just fifteen years old, he became the youngest ever US 98 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: Junior Amateur champion. On the heels of this achievement, Tiger 99 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: won three consecutive US Junior Amateur titles, followed by three 100 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: US Amateur titles, a feat no one had accomplished before. 101 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 1: It felt as if there weren't enough awards yet created 102 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: for Tiger Woods to win. The teenager was simply unstoppable. 103 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: Even the golf legend Byron Nelson, after seeing Tiger play, 104 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: would gush to fellow legend Tom Watson, I've seen Ben, Jack, Nicholas, 105 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: and you. I've seen them all, Tom. This young fellow 106 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: has no weaknesses. These were proved to be loaded words 107 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: in later years, but as Tiger bordered on adulthood, He's 108 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: seen in his natural habitat on a pedestal. Unsurprisingly, Tiger 109 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: Woods was heavily recruited by colleges. He chose Stanford University, 110 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: the nineteen ninety four NCAA champion, and enrolled there in 111 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: the fall of nineteen ninety four under a golf scholarship. 112 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: His first collegiate tournament was the fortieth annual William H. 113 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: Tucker Invitational, and just as everyone expected him to, he won. 114 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: While Tiger only spent two years playing for Stanford before 115 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: leaving college to turn pro, he would describe it as 116 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: one of the best times in his life, saying, I 117 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: really enjoyed being stimulated by the students and professors. Some 118 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: were geniuses and others were Olympic athletes. It's amazing how 119 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: well rounded they are. That's what's so cool about it. 120 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: I must soak up that experience. According to his Stanford 121 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: friend Casey Martin, college really was an opportunity for Tiger 122 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: to soak up normal, age appropriate activities for the first 123 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: time in his life. Casey told Golf Digest, I love Tiger. 124 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: He's the greatest at his sport, maybe ever, but I'll 125 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: never forget one time a bunch of us were having 126 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: a grand time watching Tiger dance. You know a guy 127 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: that's so dominant, you've got to bring him down a little. 128 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: You've got to look for his weaknesses and really expose it. 129 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: I think we found it at Stanford Dancing. It's a 130 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: bad deal. Ha. But while Tiger Woods may have stood 131 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: out in a bad way for his terrible dancing, he 132 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: stood out in a positive way as a black trailblazer 133 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: in golf. Golf is a predominantly white sport. Even today, 134 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: The National Golf Foundation reports that just three percent of 135 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: all recreational golf players are black, and only one point 136 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: five five percent of competitive golfers are black. A handful 137 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: of athletes have paved the way for Tiger's dominance, golfers 138 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: like Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder, and Calvin Pete. Charlie Sifford, 139 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 1: often referred to as the Jackie Robinson of golf, broke 140 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: the color barrier on the PGA Tour in nineteen sixty one, 141 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: enduring significant racism and prejudice to create opportunity for future generations. 142 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: While Charlie would declare his endless love of golf, he 143 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: would also say I don't smile much and I never laugh. 144 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: If you'd been through what I've been through, you wouldn't 145 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: be smiling either. Tiger Woods would later make clear the 146 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: impact Charlie's trailblazing had on his own life by naming 147 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: his son after him. In fact, Tiger called Charlie Siffert 148 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: the grandpa I never had, and said that had Charlie 149 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: not broken the PGA color barrier, he might never have 150 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: played golf. My dad would have never picked up the 151 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: game without Charlie as a role model, Tiger explained similarly, 152 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: Lee Elder came the first black offer to play in 153 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: the Masters Tournament in nineteen seventy five. This was a 154 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: momentous event that challenged the segregationist history of the sport 155 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: and especially of Augusta National Golf Course. It was also 156 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: an event riddled with fear for Lee, who put his 157 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: personal safety on the line to participate. Leading up to 158 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: the tournament, Lee received large amounts of hate mail, and 159 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: during the week of the tournament, he rented two houses 160 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: in town and kept moving between them to make his 161 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: whereabouts difficult to nail down. It was very nerve racking, 162 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: Lee would tell CNN later, I was shaking so badly. 163 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: I did not know if I was even going to 164 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: be able to tee up the ball, but Lee persisted 165 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: and laid yet another stepping stone for Calvin Pete, who 166 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: won twelve PGA Tour events in the nineteen eighties. Calvin 167 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: would be the most successful Black offer until Tiger Woods 168 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: came on the scene. Tiger Woods rise to fame in 169 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: the nineteen nine and he's brought a new level of 170 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: visibility and inclusivity to the sport. His impact was immediate 171 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: and undeniable. By the time Tiger turned pro in nineteen 172 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: ninety six, the world was already watching closely. Within a year, 173 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: he had won his first major championship at the nineteen 174 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: ninety seven Masters, by a record breaking twelve strokes, becoming 175 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: the youngest Master's champion in history at just twenty one 176 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: years old. Tiger Woods was not only following in the 177 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: footsteps of Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder and Calvin Pete, he 178 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: was transcending the sport, becoming a global icon and inspiring 179 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: a new generation of golfers from diverse backgrounds. With his 180 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,959 Speaker 1: signature fist pump and incredible intensity, Tiger not only won tournaments, 181 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: he captured the imagination of fans around the world. Over 182 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: the next decade, Tiger became the fastest player to win 183 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: fifty tournaments on the PGA Tour, and by two thousand 184 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: and one, he had completed what was to become known 185 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: as the Tiger Slam by holding all four major titles 186 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: from the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, US Open, and the 187 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: Open Championship at the same time. This was an unprecedented achievement. 188 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: This combination of power, precision, and mental strength made him 189 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: nearly unbeatable, and Tiger Woods became a household name, not 190 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: just in golf, but in sports and popular culture at large. 191 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: Lucrative endorsement deals with major brands like Nike and titleists 192 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: naturally flowed to Tiger, making him a very wealthy man 193 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: while simultaneously bringing golf into the mainstream. Tiger Woods was 194 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: on top of the world, but as we've explored time 195 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: and time again on playing dirty meteoric rises come with 196 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 1: tremendous pressure. The expectations placed on Tiger by his parents 197 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: in the world were immense. As the victories piled up, 198 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: so did the demands on his time, his body, and 199 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: his psyche. It would be the same relentless drive that 200 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: pushed Tiger to the top of the golf world that 201 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: would ultimately contribute to his dramatic and scandalous fall. On 202 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: the evening of November twenty seventh, two thousand and nine, 203 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: the sports world was rocked by breaking news that Tiger Woods, 204 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: this seemingly invincible golf icon, had been involved in a 205 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: car accident outside his home in Windermere, Florida. What was 206 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: initially reported to be a minor traffic incident was soon 207 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: revealed to be something much more complex and sensational. Tiger Woods, 208 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: driving his Cadillac Escalator around two thirty am, had struck 209 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: a fire hydrant and a tree just a few yards 210 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: from his driveway. How could this happen to such a 211 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: controlled and disciplined athlete. It's difficult to imagine that the 212 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: golfer who unleashed a two hundred and eighteen yard Masters 213 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,719 Speaker 1: stroke from a pile of wet sand at the two 214 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: thousand RBC Canadian Open would struggle to park. People didn't 215 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: buy it, and as the hours and days passed, the 216 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 1: narrative surrounding the incident began to shift, as relentless questions 217 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: poured in why had Tiger Woods been leaving his home 218 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: at such an odd hour? Why had Tiger's wife at 219 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: the time, model Elin Nordegren, used a golf club to 220 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: smash the back window of the vehicle to help her 221 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: husband escape from a low impact crash. Why had Tigers 222 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: sustained facial injuries? What was going on with golf scolden boy. 223 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: In the days and weeks that followed, the carefully guarded 224 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: facade of Tiger Wood's life began to unravel at an 225 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: alarming rate. Reports started surfacing that the crash was not 226 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: just a simple accident that it created thirty two hundred 227 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: dollars in residential property damage, but rather the culmination of 228 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: a heated argument between Tiger and Elin. Tiger Woods and 229 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: Elin Nordegren seemed to be the couple who had it all. 230 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: They met during the two thousand and one British Open. 231 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: Elan was working as a nanny for Swedish golfer Yesper 232 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: Parnavic's family, and Tiger quickly took notice, recognizing her as 233 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: the true grand prize. According to Jesper's wife, Mia Parnavik, 234 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: Elan had no interest in Tiger and he was okay 235 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,119 Speaker 1: with that. There was a big line of single golfers 236 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: wanting to meet her. They were gaga over her, but 237 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods never backed down from a challenge, so he 238 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: pulled out his famous long game to wu Elan, finally 239 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: getting her to say yes to his proposal at the 240 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: Shamwari Game Reserve in November two thousand and three. On 241 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: October fifth, two thousand and four, the couple married at 242 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: the Sandy Lane Resort in Barbados. Tiger rented the entire 243 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: complex for a week at a cost of almost two 244 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: million dollars in honor of the celebration. This included exclusive 245 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: access to three golf courses and all one hundred ten rooms. 246 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: The wedding went great of beaming Tiger Woods set after 247 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: the ceremony. It was a very special occasion. We just 248 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: had a great time with all the families there, and 249 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: then it seemed to the outside world that the great 250 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: times kept right on rolling for Tiger and Elin. They 251 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: lived in a seven nine hundred and forty square foot 252 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: multi million dollar mansion in a gated community. They welcomed 253 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: two beautiful, healthy children, first a daughter, sam Alexis Woods, 254 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: on June eighteenth, two thousand and seven, and then a son, 255 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: Charlie Axelwoods, on February eighth, two thousand and nine. It's 256 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: great when you see people who've been married for twenty 257 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: thirty forty years and they're still in love. That's what 258 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: I want for Elin and I, Tiger told People magazine. 259 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: It really seemed that Tiger Woods was not just a 260 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: phenomenal golfer, but all so an incredible husband and father. 261 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,479 Speaker 1: But his car crash on November twenty seven, two thousand 262 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: and nine, exposed a double life. Journalists were quick to 263 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: uncover that Tiger and Elan had had an argument the 264 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: previous evening on Thanksgiving Day about his infidelity. Allegedly, Elin 265 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: discovered romantic text messages between her husband and Rachel Yukuatel, 266 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: the director of VIP operations for New York City's Tow nightclub. 267 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: Elan called the number associated with the text and, expecting 268 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,360 Speaker 1: to hear Tiger on the other end of the line. 269 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: Rachel answered the phone saying something like hey babe. Not 270 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: only was this confirmation of Tiger's stepping out on her, 271 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 1: but Elin apparently found communications with other mistresses on his phone. 272 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: The man whom everyone thought could do no wrong had 273 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: apparently been playing very dirty. According to Tiger Woods's biographer, 274 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: James Patterson. Elan woke Tiger up and confronted him about 275 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: his affairs. At this point, Tiger locked himself in the 276 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: bathroom for a short time before rushing out of his 277 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: house and into his Cadillac, where he crashed it just 278 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,719 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty yards away. The image of Tiger 279 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: Woods as a devoted family man and clean cut athlete 280 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: was forever tarnished. As word got out, women lined up 281 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: to claim they'd had affairs with the golf superstar. Rachel 282 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: Yu could tell herself would say, I knew him to 283 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: be cheating on his wife from the first time I 284 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: met him, well before we got together. Facing mounting pressure 285 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: and public outrage, Tiger Woods broke his silence on December two, 286 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: two thousand and nine, releasing a statement on his website 287 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 1: acknowledging that he had quote let his family down and 288 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 1: expressing regret for his quote transgressions. He further announced that 289 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 1: he would be taking an indefinite break from professional golf 290 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: to focus on his family. It was a decision that 291 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: shocked the sports world, especially since the media had been 292 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: talking of how close Tiger Woods was to beating the 293 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: record of icon Jack Nicholas, who'd won eighteen major championships 294 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: in his illustrious career, it seemed inevitable that Tiger would 295 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: overtake Jack, But now on the heels of personal crisis, 296 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: golf fans were left wondering if the most influential golfer 297 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 1: of a generation would ever compete again. As we all know, 298 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: scandalous SIPs always come with an aftertaste. There was no 299 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: chance the press stepping back to give Tiger an eel 300 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 1: in privacy in their darkest days, and there was no 301 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 1: doubt that the full story would eventually be spilled for 302 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: public consumption. The New York Post soon reported that Tiger 303 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: Woods cheated with quote as many as one hundred and 304 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: twenty women behind his wife's back during their five year marriage, 305 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: from diner waitress Mindy Lawton to porn star Holly Sampson, 306 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: with whom he had sex the night of his bachelor party, 307 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: to exotic dancer Corey Wrist. But it was the discovery 308 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: of a one night stand with the twenty one year 309 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: old daughter of a neighbor that was the final straw 310 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: for Elin Nordegrend. The National Inquirer delved deeply into this 311 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: particular portrayal, claiming that Elan decided to sign divorce papers 312 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 1: after learning about Tiger's alleged fling with a neighbor's daughter, 313 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: Rachel Coudre, whom he had reportedly known since he was 314 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: just fourteen years old. As the scandal continued to dominate 315 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: headlines and Elan moved ever closer toward the exit, Tiger 316 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: Woods faced increasing pressure to address the unfolding situation more fully, 317 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: so on February nineteenth, twenty ten, Tiger held a highly 318 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: publicized press conference at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponavidra Beach, Florida. 319 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: It was his first public appearance since the scandal broke, 320 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: and millions tuned in to hear what he had to say. Here, 321 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: he faced the world's media and a select group of 322 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: friends and family, including his mother Tita, who sat stoically 323 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: in the front row. During the thirteen minute statement, Tiger 324 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: admitted to his infidelity, stating I was unfaithful, I had affairs, 325 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 1: I cheated. He went on to express deep regret for 326 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: his actions, saying I knew my actions were wrong, but 327 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. Tiger acknowledged 328 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: that he had stopped living by the core values talked 329 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,959 Speaker 1: to him by his parents, and that his behavior was 330 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: not acceptable. I thought I could get away with whatever 331 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard 332 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations 333 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: around me. I felt I was entitled thanks to money 334 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 1: and fame. I didn't have to go far to find them. 335 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: While the apology was a pivotal moment in the scandal, 336 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 1: it did little to stem the tide of public criticism 337 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: and personal fallout for Tiger. He retreatd to Pine Grove 338 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for sex 339 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 1: rehab as his sponsors, like Jellette, Gatorade, and Accentua jumped ship. 340 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 1: Accentia was the first to severtize, announcing in December two 341 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: thousand and nine the Tiger Woods was no longer the 342 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: right representative for their brand. Gellette followed suit, stating that 343 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 1: they would be phasing Tiger out of their marketing campaigns. Gatorade, 344 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 1: which had already discontinued its Tiger Focus drink two days 345 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: before the scandal broke, formally ended its relationship with the 346 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: Fall and Golfer in early twenty ten, At and t 347 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: Another of tiger woods high profile sponsors, also dropped him, 348 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: citing the need to protect their company's image. Nike was 349 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 1: among the few companies that chose to stand by Tiger 350 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: Woods at his lowest point, though they too scaled back 351 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: their use of him in advertising. The financial impact of 352 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: these lost endorsements was staggering. It's been estimated that Tiger 353 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: Woods lost nearly twenty two million dollars in sponsorship deals 354 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 1: in twenty ten alone, a sharp decline from the ninety 355 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: two million he had earned in endorsements the previous year. 356 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: The loss of income was a blow to Tiger who 357 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: had been the highest paid athlete in the world for 358 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:22,360 Speaker 1: several years running, but the financial hit paled in comparison 359 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: to watching his life's work unravel. Tiger Woods is a 360 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: born competitor, and at this point he was facing the 361 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: monumental challenge of returning to golf amid controversy and reclaiming 362 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: his place in the sport he dominated for more than 363 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 1: a decade. His absence from the game left the void 364 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,400 Speaker 1: that was keenly felt by fans and the golfing community 365 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: at large. Tournaments that at once relied on Tiger Woods 366 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: to draw large crowds in television ratings suddenly found themselves 367 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: struggling to generate a fraction of the interest. The PGA Tour, 368 00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: which had benefited enormously from Tiger Woods star power, experienced 369 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:04,919 Speaker 1: a noticeable dip in viewership and attendance during his hiatus. 370 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: Sean McManus, the president of CBS Sports and News, told 371 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: The New York Times, that golf could go on without 372 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods, but not for long without consequences. We've obviously 373 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 1: done golf tournaments without Tiger before, Sewn explained, but we 374 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: all know how much better they do when Tiger is 375 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: playing well on the weekend. Will adjust, but I guess 376 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: a lot of the impact will depend on what Tiger's 377 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 1: definition of the word indefinite is. But even as many 378 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: in the golf community pined for his return, Tiger's wife 379 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: Elin wanted him gone. Tiger's sexual escapades, many of which 380 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: had been conducted without protection, had demonstrated a gross lack 381 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: of consideration for her physical well being and for their 382 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: family's future. I have been through the stages of disbelief 383 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: and shock, to anger and ultimately grief over the loss 384 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: of the family I so badly wanted for my children, 385 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 1: Elan told People magazine. On August twenty third, twenty ten, 386 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: Tiger and Elan officially finalized their divorce at the Bay 387 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: County Circuit Court in Panama City, Florida. In a joint 388 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: statement released by Elin Nordegren's law firm McGuire Woods, the 389 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,400 Speaker 1: former couple expressed their sadness over the end of their marriage, 390 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:23,919 Speaker 1: but emphasized their mutual desire to move forward positively with 391 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: their two children, Sam and Charlie as the priority. While 392 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: we are no longer married, where the parents of two 393 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: wonderful children and their happiness has been and will always 394 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: be of paramount importance to both of us, the statement read. 395 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: The divorce was reported to be one of the most 396 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 1: expensive in history, with Elin Nordgren receiving a substantial settlement 397 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: rumored to be around one hundred million dollars. As Tiger 398 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 1: grappled with the end of his marriage, another set of 399 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 1: challenges was waiting to unfold. Golf is a sport with 400 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: a strong mental element. Focus is necessary for any champion. 401 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 1: Many were questioning whether Tiger Woods could ever get his 402 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: famous intensity back after everything that had gone down, would 403 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: he ever compete again? In March twenty ten, Tiger provided 404 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: an answer to this question at last, announcing that after 405 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: a long and necessary time away from the game, I 406 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 1: feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta. 407 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 1: The major championships have always been a special focus in 408 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: my career and as a professional, I think Augusta is 409 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: where I need to be, even though it's been a 410 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:38,199 Speaker 1: while since I last played. And so the gauntlet was 411 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: thrown down. The champion had returned and would be competing 412 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: from April fifth through the eleventh, twenty ten at the Masters. 413 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: The world was watching. While Tiger played respectably at the 414 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 1: twenty ten Masters, he clearly lost some of his groove, 415 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,640 Speaker 1: falling short of the high standards synonymous with his name. 416 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: He finished tied for fourth, a result that was both 417 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,440 Speaker 1: a testament to his talent coming off a hiatus, as 418 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 1: well as a reminder that he still faced an uphill 419 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: climb back to the top of his sport, and that 420 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: climb would prove to be steeper than he imagined. In 421 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,680 Speaker 1: the years that followed, Tiger battled the series of debilitating 422 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 1: injuries that severely impacted his ability to compete at the 423 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 1: highest level. He underwent multiple surgeries on his back, and knee, 424 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: leading to extended absences from the sport. Each comeback attempt 425 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 1: after recovery was met with hope and anticipation, but time 426 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: and again Tiger found himself sidelined by physical setbacks. His 427 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: once feared presence on the golf course was replaced by uncertainty, 428 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: as fans and analysts questioned whether he would ever regain 429 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 1: his former glory. I might be done, he confessed to 430 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: fellow Masters winners at the twenty seventeen Champions dinner before 431 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: flying to Harley Street in London for a diagnosis that 432 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 1: showed a back fusion would be needed for him to 433 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 1: have any chance of playing golf. Ever, again, Tiger's body 434 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 1: seemed to be against him, and he was on a 435 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 1: constant cocktail of drugs to dull the pain. The pressure 436 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: to succeed, coupled with constant physical pain and painkillers was 437 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: a recipe for disaster. In the early hours of May 438 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: twenty nine, twenty seventeen, Tiger Woods was arrested near his 439 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: ninety seven hundred square foot estate in Jupiter, Florida, for 440 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: driving under the influence. He was found asleep at the 441 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,879 Speaker 1: wheel of his Mercedes Bins, which was stopped in the 442 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 1: middle of the road with the engine running. Tiger was 443 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: taken into custody at approximately three am and was later 444 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: charged with DUI. As news of Tiger's arrest spread, the 445 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 1: public and media speculated that alcohol might have been involved. However, 446 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: after being released on his own recognizance, Tiger quickly released 447 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 1: a statement to clarify the situation, stating, I understand the 448 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: severity of what I did, and I take full responsibility 449 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: for my action. I want the public to know that 450 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: alcohol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction 451 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: to prescribed medications. I didn't realize the mix of medications 452 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: had affected me so strongly. The arrest report revealed that 453 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods had indeed been under the influence of a 454 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: potent drug cocktail. He had five different drugs in his 455 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: system at the time he was picked up hydro codone 456 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 1: and hydromorphone, which are both opioid pain medications, alpresilam, which 457 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 1: is an anxiety drug known as xanax, zopidim which is 458 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: a sleep drug known as ambient, and Delta nine CARBOXYTCHC, 459 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 1: which is found in marijuana. Tiger had been trying to 460 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: manage his excruciating back pain and insomnia, but the pills 461 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: were a dangerous crutch. I realized now it was a 462 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 1: mistake to do this without medical assistance, Tiger Woods admitted. 463 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods appeared in court on October twenty seven, two 464 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: thousand and seven, to plead guilty to reckless driving. The judge, 465 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: Sandra Bosso Pardo told him this particular plea agreement has 466 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: no jail time on it. However, if you violate your 467 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 1: probation in any significant way, I could revoke your probation 468 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: and then I could sentence you to jail for ninety 469 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: days with a fine of up to five hundred dollars. 470 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: Is that understood? Tiger said he did understand and expressed 471 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: deep regret for the incident. He vowed to take steps 472 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 1: to ensure it wouldn't happen again, saying I would like 473 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends 474 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 1: and the fans. I expect more from myself too. I 475 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 1: will do everything in my power to ensure this never 476 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: happens again. He also thanked the law enforcement officers involved, stating, 477 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: I fully cooperate it with law enforcement, and I would 478 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,080 Speaker 1: like to personally thank the representatives of the Jupiter Police 479 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:51,640 Speaker 1: Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for their professionalism. 480 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: Despite the empathy many had for Tiger's physical challenges, the 481 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 1: Duy incident was unhelpful in the middle of his comeback efforts. 482 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: Narrative of Tiger Woods, golf's fallen hero dominated the headlines, 483 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: with his struggles serving as a cautionary tale about the 484 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 1: perils of fame and the fragility of even the most 485 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 1: successful careers. But as his competitors know, there isn't any 486 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 1: quit in Tiger Woods. He kept plugging away at his game. 487 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: He kept his eye on the ball, and on April fourteenth, 488 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, at age forty three, Tiger Woods achieved one 489 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 1: of the most extraordinary comebacks in sports history by winning 490 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. This victory, 491 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 1: his fifth Master's title and fifteenth major championship, came eleven 492 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: years after his last major win and followed a decade 493 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: marred by scandal, injury, and personal turmoil. The triumph at 494 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: Augusta was a testament to tiger woods unparalleled skill and determination. 495 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:02,240 Speaker 1: They nineteen Masters truly was a tournament for the ages. 496 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: Tiger entered the final round two shots behind the leader, 497 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 1: Francesco Mullinari, and faced a packed leaderboard featuring some of 498 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: the best players in the world. In true Tiger fashion, 499 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: he played a masterful round of golf, capitalizing on the 500 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: mistakes of his competitors while making clutch shots when it 501 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 1: mattered most. As the round progressed, the momentum began to 502 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: shift in Tiger's favor. His steady play and mental toughness 503 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 1: in the closing holes were reminiscent of the Tiger Woods 504 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 1: of old, the player who prowled the golf courses of 505 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 1: the world, striking fear into his competitor's hearts. On the 506 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 1: eighteenth green, after sinking the final putt to secure his victory, 507 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:45,080 Speaker 1: Tiger raised his arms in triumph, letting out a roar 508 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 1: that echoed throughout Augusta National. The moment was electric, and 509 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 1: the gallery erupted in celebration, recognizing the significance of what 510 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 1: had just happened. This victory was more than just another 511 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:02,160 Speaker 1: title for Tiger Woods. It was a comeback story that 512 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: was bigger than golf, capturing the imagination of sports fans 513 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: around the world. As he walked off the green, Tiger 514 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 1: embraced his children, a scene that brought full circle the 515 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: journey he'd been on since his last major win in 516 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight. It's unreal for me to experience this, 517 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: Tiger Wood said in an interview after his victory. It 518 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:26,120 Speaker 1: was one of the hardest I've ever had to win, 519 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 1: just because of what's transpired the last couple of years. 520 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: For many, the twenty nineteen Masters was a turning point 521 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: that restored much of the luster to tiger woods tarnished legacy. 522 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 1: It was as if, in that one moment all the 523 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:44,959 Speaker 1: years of scandal and injury were washed away, leaving behind 524 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:48,520 Speaker 1: only the image of a champion. The win had broader 525 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,320 Speaker 1: significance for the world of sports as well. It was 526 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:56,479 Speaker 1: a testament to why people love sports, the drama, the unpredictability, 527 00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: and the capacity for human achievement to inspire. But while 528 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: the twenty nineteen Masters was undoubtedly a moment of immense triumph, 529 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 1: it was not the end of Tiger Wood's story. The 530 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,840 Speaker 1: comeback of Augusta may have seen like the final chapter 531 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 1: in his long road to redemption, but in reality, it 532 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 1: was just another milestone in the life of ups and downs. 533 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 1: Even as Tiger basked in the glory of his great win, 534 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,279 Speaker 1: the physical toll of his career and the consequences of 535 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: his past were ever present. Just when it seemed that 536 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:37,320 Speaker 1: Tiger Woods was beginning to regain control of his life 537 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:42,479 Speaker 1: and career, another shocking incident occurred. On February twenty third, 538 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, Tiger was involved in a severe car 539 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: accident in Rancho Palas Verdas, California. They left him with 540 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 1: serious leg injuries and once again thrust him into the headlines. 541 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 1: Early that morning, Tiger Woods was driving his SUV when 542 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: he approached the sharp curve in the road. According to 543 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,840 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, instead of hitting the brakes, 544 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:09,480 Speaker 1: Tiger mistakingly accelerated, sending the vehicle into a high speed rollover. 545 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: The SUV, which was traveling at speeds of up to 546 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:15,359 Speaker 1: eighty seven miles per hour and a forty five mile 547 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:20,320 Speaker 1: per hour zone, careened across the center divider, plowed through shrubbery, 548 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:23,440 Speaker 1: and struck a tree before coming to a stop. The 549 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 1: impact was so severe that the vehicle was sent airborne, 550 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,839 Speaker 1: spinning before it landed on the side of the road. 551 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: The crash data recorder from Tiger's vehicle revealed that there 552 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,080 Speaker 1: was no braking detected at the time of the crash, 553 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:42,080 Speaker 1: only acceleration. There is zero breaking on that data recorder. 554 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 1: Captain James Powers of the Sheriff's Department explained, but there 555 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 1: is ninety nine percent acceleration on the pedal. This suggested 556 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,800 Speaker 1: that Tiger mistook the gas pedal for the brake, leading 557 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 1: to the devastating accident. Despite the severity of the crash, 558 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 1: investigators determined that there was no no evidence of impairment 559 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:04,799 Speaker 1: or intoxication. Tiger would later state that he had not 560 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: been drinking or taking any medication at the time of 561 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,320 Speaker 1: the accident, and due to his injuries, no field sobriety 562 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:13,840 Speaker 1: tests were conducted. He was immediately rushed to the Harbor 563 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:18,280 Speaker 1: UCLA Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery for multiple 564 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 1: fractures in his legs. Tiger's injuries were so severe that 565 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,800 Speaker 1: for time there was concern about whether he would be 566 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 1: able to walk again, let alone play golf. Tiger, who 567 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:32,319 Speaker 1: had likely assumed that his most difficult years were behind him, 568 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 1: now faced one of the most challenging periods of his life. 569 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:44,919 Speaker 1: The severity of his injuries required multiple surgeries, including the 570 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:48,120 Speaker 1: insertion of a rod into his tibia and screws and 571 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,759 Speaker 1: pins to stabilize his foot and ankle. For a man 572 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:55,120 Speaker 1: who had already endured so many surgeries throughout his career, 573 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:59,439 Speaker 1: this was another daunting hurdle to overcome. As he worked 574 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:03,640 Speaker 1: on his physical recovery, Tiger provided occasional updates to the public, 575 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:08,120 Speaker 1: expressing gratitude for support, but offering little detailed about his progress, 576 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:13,600 Speaker 1: keeping the specifics of his physical health largely private. Tiger's 577 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: dedication to rehabilitation was reminiscent of the discipline that had 578 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:20,640 Speaker 1: made him a champion in the first place. In December 579 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:24,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, just ten months after the crash, Tiger 580 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:27,400 Speaker 1: Woods made a stunning return to competitive golf at the 581 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:31,200 Speaker 1: P and C Championship, a family oriented tournament where he 582 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: played alongside his son, Charlie. The event marked Tiger's first 583 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 1: competitive rounds since the accident, and although it was a 584 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:43,880 Speaker 1: low stakes, friendly competition, his participation was a powerful statement. 585 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,080 Speaker 1: The site of Tiger Woods swinging a golf club again, 586 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:52,000 Speaker 1: even if at a reduced capacity, reignited hope among fans 587 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:54,720 Speaker 1: that he could make a more substantial return to the sport. 588 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:59,440 Speaker 1: Tiger and Charlie finished second, with Tigers showing flashes of 589 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:03,319 Speaker 1: the brilliant play that had defined his career. As of 590 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,840 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, Tiger Woods remains a figure of immense 591 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:10,520 Speaker 1: interest and admiration in the world of golf. He seems 592 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:13,920 Speaker 1: to have achieved redemption from the scandals of his earlier career, 593 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:18,279 Speaker 1: including forgiveness from his ex wife, Elin Nordegren. According to 594 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:22,279 Speaker 1: multiple sources, the two are now best friends and epitomized 595 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:26,080 Speaker 1: top notch co parenting. Having the relationship that I have 596 00:38:26,239 --> 00:38:29,560 Speaker 1: now with Elin is fantastic, Tiger gush to us weekly. 597 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 1: She's one of my best friends. We're able to pick 598 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:34,880 Speaker 1: up the phone. We talk to each other all the time. 599 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:37,600 Speaker 1: We both know that the most important things in our 600 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:41,799 Speaker 1: lives are our kids. So while Tiger Woods may never 601 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 1: return to full time competition, it seems he has anchored 602 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:49,040 Speaker 1: the greatest prize his family and that he will continue 603 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:51,520 Speaker 1: to be involved in the sport he loves through hosting 604 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:55,640 Speaker 1: tournaments like the Hero World Challenge and mentoring younger players. 605 00:38:56,239 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 1: His participation in select events such as the Masters and 606 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:03,239 Speaker 1: the p N Championship will always cause a stir and 607 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:07,440 Speaker 1: forever demonstrate his enduring commitment to the game, even as 608 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:16,880 Speaker 1: his physical capabilities have been significantly reduced. Tiger Wood's journey 609 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:19,360 Speaker 1: is one of the most compelling narratives in the story 610 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:23,799 Speaker 1: of sports. What makes his story truly remarkable is not 611 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 1: just his rise or his fall, but his ability to 612 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:32,080 Speaker 1: rise again. Tiger's comeback, culminating in that unforgettable victory at 613 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:36,680 Speaker 1: the twenty nineteen Masters, was nothing short of extraordinary. It 614 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:41,440 Speaker 1: was a testament to his resilience, his unwavering determination, and 615 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:44,560 Speaker 1: his ability to learn from the past and move forward. 616 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: Tiger Wood's legacy is complex. He is a symbol of greatness, 617 00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:53,239 Speaker 1: a reminder of human frailty, and an example of the 618 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:57,040 Speaker 1: power of redemption. In the end, Tiger Woods has shown 619 00:39:57,120 --> 00:39:59,720 Speaker 1: us that no one is perfect, and that our true 620 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:03,520 Speaker 1: care arter is revealed not in how we handle success, 621 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:06,520 Speaker 1: but in how we respond to failure. As the great 622 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:10,919 Speaker 1: American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne once pinned, no man can wear 623 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: one face to himself and another to the multitude without 624 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:19,080 Speaker 1: finally getting bewildered as to which may be true. Tiger 625 00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:21,720 Speaker 1: Woods is one of my all time favorite tales on tap. 626 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:25,319 Speaker 1: I am honored to be your host, Jay Harris, thank 627 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:27,920 Speaker 1: you so much for joining me and never missing the 628 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: dirt this has been Playing Dirty Sports Scandals. Playing Dirty 629 00:40:42,239 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 1: Sports Scandals is a production of Dan Patrick Productions, Never 630 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:50,440 Speaker 1: Ever Productions, and Workhouse Media from executive producers Dan Patrick, 631 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:55,560 Speaker 1: Paul Anderson, Nick Panela, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Clary. Hosted 632 00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:59,760 Speaker 1: by Jay Harris, Written and produced by Jen Brown, Francy Haiks, 633 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:03,440 Speaker 1: my Eglictment and Jennifer Clare.