Do you think "mad" Earl Woods might have been part of the problem?

[Shorty]

I was watching the documentary about Tiger Woods on the History Channel last week, and it struck me that Earl Woods was a complete bore and a bit of a jerk. Seems I’m not alone.

John Feinstein, the great golf writer (author of A Good Walk Spoiled) thinks that Tiger has succeeded in spite of rather than because of Earl’s influence.

Check this out, it’s from Feinstein’s book about Tiger. Smith is a Sports Illustrated writer:

In talking to Earl Woods, Smith got quotes in which the father insisted that his son had been sent by God and that he would be the most important human ever – not the most important golfer or the most important athlete, but the most important human. “Tiger will do more than any other man in history to change the course of humanity,” Earl Woods said. When Smith asked Earl Woods if he honestly thought his son – a golfer – would have more impact than Nelson Mandela, more than Gandhi, more than the Buddha, Earl Woods didn’t blink. “Yes, because he has a larger forum than any of them. Because he’s playing a sport that’s international. Because he’s qualified through his ethnicity to achieve miracles. . . . There is no limit because he has the guidance. I don’t know exactly what form this will take, but he is the Chosen One. He’ll have the power to impact nations. Not people. Nations. The world is just getting a taste of his power.”

[lumpuckeroo]

Maybe not to that extend, but we all think our children will make a difference, at least I do. I think you call that a proud parent, I'm not one to speak out like Earl did, but in my heart I hope my childern will one day change the world, at least a part of it.

[Dave H]

Maybe not to that extend, but we all think our children will make a difference, at least I do. I think you call that a proud parent, I'm not one to speak out like Earl did, but in my heart I hope my childern will one day change the world, at least a part of it.

It's one thing to hope and think your children will make a difference in the world, and it's something completely different to call your child "the chosen one".

Interesting.

[Tiger Spuds]

Whether he was a bit of an oddball or not, calling a dead man 'a bit of a jerk' is unnecessary.And when Tiger retires, he may well turn to philanthropy with his billions of dollars, who knows what he'll do for humanity!

And besides, Earl Woods was hardly the first or the last person to liken Tiger to jesus, ridiculous as it is.

Point is, I think Tiger is a more rounded and down to earth guy that people realise and I'm sure he wouldn't buy into any of that nonsense.On the contrary, he doesn't seem to care too much about anyone else bar himself, let alone care about 'shaping the future of humanity'.

[Fat Slice]

Tiger does seem to have touched a few people.

[J_Bone]

I feel Tiger has done more for Golf than any other golfer before.

[Golf'nBiker]

In talking to Earl Woods, Smith got quotes in which the father insisted that his son had been sent by God and that he would be the most important human ever – not the most important golfer or the most important athlete, but the most important human. “Tiger will do more than any other man in history to change the course of humanity,” Earl Woods said. When Smith asked Earl Woods if he honestly thought his son – a golfer – would have more impact than Nelson Mandela, more than Gandhi, more than the Buddha, Earl Woods didn’t blink. “Yes, because he has a larger forum than any of them. Because he’s playing a sport that’s international. Because he’s qualified through his ethnicity to achieve miracles. . . . There is no limit because he has the guidance. I don’t know exactly what form this will take, but he is the Chosen One. He’ll have the power to impact nations. Not people. Nations. The world is just getting a taste of his power.

Seems Earl was right on!!

[Cussin hacker]

Earl was an odd dude in my book. I say he made a few mistake in his life also. He'd be more disapointed in himself than Tiger.

[Three Putt]

I was watching the documentary about Tiger Woods on the History Channel last week, and it struck me that Earl Woods was a complete bore and a bit of a jerk. Seems I’m not alone.

I think Earl watched "The Matrix" a little too much. WTF....is Steve Williams..."Neo"?? Sadly, Tiger is heading to divorce court, and I'll be the first to say it...His kids will be better with a more normal life, not worrying about sentinel octopus things trying to attach to the house and rip it apart!!

[RocketSauce]

Tiger does seem to have touched a few people.

LOL!!! Now THAT was funny

[topspin4hand]

Whether he was a bit of an oddball or not, calling a dead man 'a bit of a jerk' is unnecessary.

+1. Exactly what I was thinking.

[Shorty]

+1. Exactly what I was thinking.

Why is it wrong to call someone a jerk just because they're dead? I think his words and actions confirm it. It's my opinion, and that of many others, possibly even that of the greatest golf writer on the planet. What is the difference whether he is alive or dead?

[topspin4hand]

Why is it wrong to call someone a jerk just because they're dead? I think his words and actions confirm it. It's my opinion, and that of many others, possibly even that of the greatest golf writer on the planet. What is the difference whether he is alive or dead?

Bro, it's cool. You're entitled to your opinion like everyone else. Your thought on this rubbed me the wrong way. Was Earl Woods' comment weird? It's not unfair to say so. However, unless you knew a lot about the man it's hard to go there and sully his rep like that. Just my thought.

Sadly, Tiger is heading to divorce court, and I'll be the first to say it...

You may be right. Hillary Clinton and Vanessa Bryant had to forgive their husbands for 1 or 2 side-pieces (for lack of a better term). But 8, 9 or 10 is already in, or approaching the territory of 'unforgivable' ?

Not that Tiger gives a hoot about the dollars here, but the reported conditions on Elin's reworked prenupt will surely not give her all the new cash if she divorces this early ... she may just say "to hell with it all at this point and leave with the millions already guaranteed her."

[safetrip]

I think Earl watched "The Matrix" a little too much.

LOL, I was thinking the exact same thing.

Kidding aside, remember the father's day commercial (by Nike I believe) aired a few years ago at British open? If I remember correctly, it was monologue of Earl on the background slide show of Tiger's early moments juxtaposed with that famous shot of him crying on the shoulder of Steve after winning the open ? If you were a son and/or dad, how could you not have been touched by that? Tiger & Co did remarkable job of marketing his family life. Now, if I see that again, I would be thinking there is Tiger wishing his father was here to watch him and then there is this Tiger thinking 'who should I hook up with after the game tonight? that waitress or porn girl?'

[Leftygolfer]

I really think no one on here know the relationship with his father. I don't think Tiger is this terrible person and we do not know the future with his family. People do forgive and change.

To say Earl did a bad job as a father.... That is just stupid. He is going to be the greatest athlete ever in modern history and will have influenced so many americans (mostly kids) in a positive way and got people involved in golf when they other wise wouldn't be. Also the amount of money he will give to others over the course of his life will be huge.

There is alot of research that says you should error on the side of being too strict with your children.

We don't know Tiger. We don't know the facts. We don't know his wife. We don't know how he was raised.

[DavidFehertysBike]

It seems like Tigers old man keep him on the golf course too much and didnt teach him how to pimp.

[tm22721]

If he is the "most important human" then he has absolute power and that as we all know corrupts absolutely so why are we surprised ?

[Buffalosaint]

My dad stood behind me when I made mistakes in my first marriage. It wasn't his fault that I made those mistakes. People cheat on their signifigant others every day and if everyone had the oppurtunities to do what Tiger did then I think the divorce rate would be somewhere around 80% instead of just 50%.