It won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but the Big Cat was officially inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

That’s right, Tiger Woods, who is regarded by many as the best golfer in the history of the game, was officially inducted on Wed., March 9th 2022, alongside U.S. Open winner Susie Berning, former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, and legendary golf pioneer Marion Hollins.

“I am both honored and humbled to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame,” Woods said in a press quote about his induction. “This achievement is the ultimate recognition to never give up and keep chasing.”

Woods’ daughter, Sam, 14, gave a heart warming speech to introduce her father at the event, which was held at the PGA Tour’s new headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

https://youtu.be/eZQie5HFeUg

The display of Woods’ career at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, FLA, is impressive, as one might expect given his remarkable career that include a record-tying 82 PGA Tour titles, 15 major championships, a record 142 consecutive cuts made, a record 683 weeks — 13 years — atop the official world rankings, a record 11 PGA Tour Player of the Year Awards.

He won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15, the historic 1997 Masters by 12, the 2000 Open Championship by 8, the 2006 PGA Championship by 5. When he won the 2000 Open on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, the Home of Golf, he became, at 24, the youngest to complete the career Grand Slam.

Less than a year later, he won the 2001 Masters, becoming the only player to ever win four consecutive professional majors. It’s better known as the Tiger Slam.

And he won on a broken leg at the 2008 U.S. Open and captured his fifth Masters in 2019 following spinal fusion surgery (his fifth back surgery, to go along with five surgeries on his left knee).

However most people speak of him in past tense, the way they talk about Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer. Those men will never play another round however, Tiger will. Where and when he will play and what the scores might be remain a mystery. It is a strange dynamic—Wednesday night’s ceremony will celebrate a career, because that is the whole point of a Hall of Fame ceremony.

Most sports you have to wait five years after you retire just to be eligible but golf is different. Players can go into the Hall and still play and compete on tour.

However, that career, as uncertain as it is, is not finished.

World Golf Hall Class 2022

Susie Berning

 

Major championships: 4
LPGA wins: 11

Berning, from California, is one of only six women to have won the U.S. Women’s Open on at least three separate occasions. “Just to be in the same room as Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, Judy Rankin and Patty Berg – I tell you I remember when I first was on the tour, just how nice Patty Berg was to me and I was scared to death, as it was the first time I ever played with Mickey,” said Berning, 80. “To be honored alongside them is something I thought would never happen.”

Tim Finchem

The former PGA Tour Commissioner, Finchem was inducted in the builder category. His accomplishments include raising over $2-billion for charity during his time as commissioner, creating the Presidents Cup, and introducing the FedExCup, as well as supporting golf’s return to the Olympics.

“It is the greatest honor to be elected to join golf’s most legendary players and contributors in the World Golf Hall of Fame,” Finchem said. “This is a truly humbling moment, for which I am most grateful, and I look forward to celebrating with my family and friends throughout the game of golf and the many people who made this possible for me.

Marion Hollins

A legend in the game in the early 20th century, Hollins is inducted posthumously. Her most notable win was the 1921 U.S. Women’s Amateur, but that doesn’t really demonstrate the influence Hollins had on the game. A successful entrepreneur, Hollins is credited with helping designer Alister Mackenzie create the 16th hole at Cypress Point, one of the most famed holes in golf, and developed her own golf club, Pasatiempo, which is one of California’s most successful courses to this day. Annika Sorensteam called Hollins, “a trailblazer.”

Canadians in the Hall

There is one Canadian in the World Golf Hall of Fame—88-year old amateur legend Marlene Stewart Streit, who was inducted in 2004.