Tearful Tiger Woods inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame

A tearful Tiger Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame after a moving introductory speech by his daughter Sam at the ceremony in Florida.

The 15-time major winner was joined by Sam (14), son Charlie (13), his mum Tilda and girlfriend Erica Herman at the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach for the special occasion.

The ‘Class of 2022’ also included former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, three-time US Open’s winner Susie Maxwell Berning and golf pioneer Marion Hollins.

But the highlight of the night was undoubtedly Woods, who shares the record with Sam Snead for most PGA Tour titles with 82, taking his rightful place in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Wearing red, the colour sported by her dad on Sundays in tournaments, Sam delivered a touching speech after being asked by Woods to introduce him.

“Although I never met my dad's most influential role model, my grandfather, Earl Woods, I feel like I can hear his voice every day reminding me to ‘train hard, fight easy’" she said.

“This is an old special forces saying that he ingrained into my dad, who now says it to Charlie and I. It not only teaches us that we have to put in the hard work to get what he want, but it's that hard work that will pay off in the end.”

She then made reference to an event Woods didn’t win, namely his narrow defeat to Angel Cabrera in the 2007 US Open at Oakmont.

“My dad found himself in a position to make an 18-foot putt to force a US Open playoff, which he missed by a foot,” she added to a chorus of laughter.

“He then had to rush to the airport, fly from Pittsburgh to Orlando, and drive to the Winnie Palmer Hospital. Within five minutes of walking into the hospital room, still wearing his red golf shirt, on June 18, I was born.