Earl Woods : He devoted himself to training Tiger, and he sure likes what he sees

Golf Digest, Nov, 2001

I will not put a limitation on Tiger in the form of a prediction. I have no clue. There are so many things that can affect him, especially injury.

What happens if he breaks Nicklaus' record of 18 pro majors?

What he's doing is setting a record for kids who are following him to shoot at. When he reaches a point--and only he can determine that point--he'll say that's enough and do something else.

After Tiger's third Amateur victory, you were quoted as saying that he could have more impact on the world than Gandhi.

I would like to have it stated that I did not say that. I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person. But I will say unequivocally that Earl Woods is not stupid enough to hang a moniker like that on his son--or anybody else.

How did you intend for that to come out?

That Tiger is as charismatic and would have an impact upon the world, in a humanitarian aspect, very similar to that of Gandhi. Tiger will be interested in kids like that. He will be like an ambassador at large, without portfolio. It would not be political. He's not a very political individual, at this stage.

Are there any other examples where you feel you've been burned?

Well, a lot of things have been said about me that were not true. In the early days, writers were ridiculing me and saying, "He doesn't know what the hell he's talking about." And come to find out, I did know what I was talking about. I don't know why I knew, I just knew. So be it.

In 1998, you said that there would be a time when Tiger would be winning tournaments by 10 and 15 shots.

He's done it. The writers took it as the ravings of a madman. But I'm not one of these guys who gets kicks out of being right.

Is there any quote that you've regretted?

No, I'm pretty good at saying what I want to say.

There was that quote about Scotland that got a lot of publicity.

I don't even remember it.

This is it: "Scotland sucks, as far as I'm concerned. It has the sorriest weather. People had better be happy that Scots live there instead of the soul brothers. The game of golf would never have been invented."

I'll tell you where that quote came from. I was at the Navy Golf Course [in California] after a round, and we were drinking beer and we were shooting the breeze and we were telling war stories.

If that's the context problem that you're having . . .

No, the interviewers do a reasonably good job. It's the people who don't even bother to call you for an interview.

You were quoted as saying that when Tiger met Nelson Mandela in South Africa, it was the first time he had met someone as important as he was.

Did you notice in that article that that guy was ticked off?

Tell me the anecdote.

Tiger was playing there, and we went to Nelson Mandela's summer home. We went up to his residence, and were escorted in to see him, with the instructions that there were to be no flash pictures--the years in captivity had sensitized his eyes too much. So as soon as we walked in, they locked eyes, and they recognized each other.

And they acknowledged each other and spoke to each other as equals. It was like a teacher talking to a pupil, but acknowledging that the student is clearly superior to my other students, so I have to pay special attention to him, because he's going to do great things. And Nelson counseled him, telling him that he did have this ability and that he had to go out and do a lot of good in the world. I sat there and marveled at their complete ease with each other. It was marvelous to see.