Woods, 48, was presented with his prestigious award by the USGA in a ceremony at Pinehurst in North Carolina on Tuesday night.
Just before Woods took to the podium, his son Charlie Woods, 15, couldn’t help crack a joke.
“Well I guess I’ll start my speech by saying Charlie just said don’t let my head get too big,” Woods said as he stifled a smile in front of those watching on in the gallery.
Woods’ family members were situated in the crowd, including Charlie, daughter Samantha, 16, and mother Kultida, 80.
The 15-time major champion continued:
“It is a very humbling and special night, one that I don’t take lightly just because of the former recipients of this award.
These are people that I had idolized either through literature or in person or books, or video or even got to play and compete with.
“This award, as its name says, it’s Bobby Jones who is the greatest amateur that ever lived and what he meant to the game and what he designed the game to be and to be represented, and how he created The Masters, a major championship – all the attributes that he try to aspire to in this great game of golf – this is what Bobby Jones alluded.”
Woods then spoke about his past achievements in USGA tournaments throughout his career.
The former World No.1 is a nine-time USGA champion having won three straight US Junior Amateurs, three straight US Amateurs, as well as the US Open at Pebble Beach (2000), Bethpage Black (2002) and Torrey Pines (2008).
Woods then moved on to pay an emotional tribute to his mom, Tida, thanking her for all of her support in helping him achieve his dreams.
“There’s no other time that I had ever felt so much pressure to win one event than the last US Amateur that I was ever going to play in.
“The reason is mom never came to any of my juniors. Mom never came to any of my amateurs. She was wearing a Stanford sweatshirt there at Pumpkin Ridge, she was there for the first time. Now, imagine if I lost the damn thing. But when I made that winning putt who was the first person I hugged? Right mommy, it was you.
“My mom doesn’t get enough credit. Everyone always though it was me and dad on the road, which it was, but mom was at home. Mom has been there my entire life, she’s been there through thick and thin.
“This award I accept in humbleness and unbelievable regard for the past recipients but I also accept it from my mommy too. She allowed me to get here, to chase my dreams. I didn’t do this alone, I had the greatest rock that any child could possibly have – my mom. Thank you, mommy.”
Charlie is helping his father with his golf game at this week’s US Open.
He has been seen on the range, short game area and out on the course casting an eye over Woods’ game.
The Bob Jones Award adds to a number of other recent accolades for Woods, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump in 2019, and his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
