Tiger Woods received a prestigious award from the USGA on Tuesday evening ahead of the US Open.
The Bob Jones Award is the USGA’s highest honor that recognizes dedication to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s traditions.
The 15-time Major winner was surrounded by family as he accepted the prestigious award in Pinehurst, North Carolina, ahead of this week’s US Open.
The 48-year-old was accompanied by his mother Kultida, 80, daughter Sam, 16, and son Charlie, 15.
“Charlie just told me not to let my head get too big,” Woods joked at the start of his speech after a video played showing some of the game’s most famous faces and big names praising him.
Tiger Woods received a prestigious award from the USGA on Tuesday evening
The 48-year-old accepted the Bob Jones Award – the USGA’s highest honor
“It’s a very humbling and special evening,” he continued. “One that I do not take lightly from the past recipients of this award. These are people I had idolized, either through literature or in person or in video, or even got to play and compete with.
‘Bobby Jones is the greatest amateur who ever lived and what he meant to the game and what he designed the game for and how it should be represented – all the qualities he tries to strive for in this great game of golf – this is what Bobby’, Jones alluded.”
Woods then gave an incredibly moving tribute to his mother, who sat next to his two children in the audience. He thanked her for her support in helping him achieve his dreams.
“There’s no other time I felt more pressure to win the event than the last U.S. Amateur I was ever going to play in,” he recalled of the 199 tournament.
“The reason is that mother never came to any of my juniors. Mom never came to any of my amateurs. [But] She was wearing a Stanford sweatshirt there at Pumpkin Ridge, her first time there. Now imagine if I lose the damn thing. But when I made that winning putt, who was the first person I hugged? That’s right mom, it was you.’
Pointing the camera at Tida, she looked emotionally and proudly at her son on stage.
“My mom doesn’t get enough credit,” Woods added. ‘Everyone always thought me and Dad were on the road, which we were, but Mom was home. My mother has been there my whole life, she has been there through thick and thin.
“I accept this award with humility and incredible respect for past recipients, but I also accept it from my mother. She brought me here to pursue my dreams. Not only did I do this alone, I had the biggest rock a child could have: my mother. Thanks mom.”
Woods pulled his mother and daughter Sam into a tight hug after they left the stage, while son Charlie stood and applauded for his father.
Tida was married to Woods’ father Earl for 37 years until his death in May 2006 at their home in Cypress.
The 15-time major winner was joined by son Charlie, 15, mother, Kultida, daughter Sam, 16 (L-R)
The camera panned to Tida, 80, as she looked up emotionally at her son on stage
Woods is used to being honored for his achievements on the course, where he has won 15 majors among his 82 career victories on the PGA Tour.
The 48-year-old Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022 and in 2019 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump.
A nine-time USGA champion, Woods won three consecutive US Junior Amateurs, followed by three consecutive US Amateurs, and then the US Open at Pebble Beach (2000), Bethpage Black (2002) and Torrey Pines (2008).
Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930 when it consisted of the US Open, US Amateur, British Open and British Amateur. He later co-founded the Augusta National Golf Club and created the Masters.
Off the golf course, Woods launched what is now called the TGR Foundation, which emphasizes educational opportunities along with STEM-based learning at the TGR Learning Lab in California. He also started a golf course design firm. One of his courses in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, hosted a PGA Tour event last fall.
Past winners include Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Mickey Wright and Ben Hogan, and former President George HW Bush.
Woods will compete in the third major of the year this week at Pinehurst, North Carolina, and he will be joined by his family not only off the course, but on the course as well.
Charlie himself attempted to qualify for the event but fell short in a qualifier in April, but he joined his famous father – and in matching colors too – in a practice round with Max Homa and Min Woo Lee ahead of the start of Thursday.
Woods pulled his mother and daughter Sam into a tight hug after leaving the stage
He also gave a hug to Charlie, who had joined him for a practice run earlier in the day
Speaking about Charlie’s presence on the course, Woods told the media: ‘I think it’s very special to have Charlie here. To maintain the father-son relationship we have and extend it to this part of our lives, he plays a lot of junior golf, and I still play here.
“It’s fun for him to see the guys he watches on TV, YouTube and TikTok, whatever they do. At home he is with JT [Justin Thomas] and Rick [ Rickie Fowler ] a lot of. But seeing other guys hit the golf ball really does it justice when you see it in real life.
“He was very excited today to watch Max [Homa] and Min Woo [Lee] and watch them hit golf balls. They talked to him a lot, especially Min Woo and him. I think they are closer in age than I am to anyone else. It is awesome. It’s wonderful for us to be able to share these moments together.
“As far as his responsibilities go, it’s the same. I trust him with my swing and my game. He’s seen it more than anyone in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone else.
Charlie Woods, 15, gives his legendary father Tiger some advice Tuesday in Pinehurst
The superstar couple was joined on Tuesday by Min-Woo Lee (left) and Max Homa (second from right).
Charlie tried to qualify for the tournament himself at the age of 15, but was unable to do so
‘I tell him what to pay attention to, especially when putting. He gave me some little side pieces today, which was great, because I get so entrenched in hitting certain putts on certain pins that I tend to forget some of the things I’m working on.
‘I just want to see the balls rolling. He reminds me every now and then, which is great. We have a great relationship and rapport, and it’s a great experience for both of us.”
Woods has played little competitive golf outside the majors so far in 2024, appearing in only one other event: the Genesis Invitational in February, which resulted in a withdrawal on day two.
He made it to the finish at the Masters in April before finishing seven over par and missing out on the weekend in Valhalla in the PGA Championship.