Tiger Woods' Daughter Has Something To Say About Her Famous Father's Latest Troubles
If there's one thing you can say about Tiger Woods' life and career, it's that neither has been particularly quiet.
The star's name has been pretty synonymous with drama and scandal in the sports world over the past several years, with one of his most notable incidents hitting the headlines back in late 2009 amid rumors he'd cheated on his now former wife, and mother to his children, Elin Nordegren. Tiger admitted to the infidelity, issuing a public apology in February 2010 and saying in part during a press conference, "I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in."
Things have been pretty up and down for the star since then in both his personal and work life, as he took some time away from the green amid the scandal. He then slipped down the world rankings, but made one of the most triumphant returns in sporting history to get back on top form.
But that didn't last too long, as it still wasn't only his golf game making the headlines. In February 2021, the dad of Sam Woods and Charlie Woods had the whole world worried when he got into a serious car accident that reportedly left him unconscious and with injuries to his jaw, ribs, legs, and ankle, according to Daily Mail.
Fortunately, the star survived the incident, but now one of his children is opening up about the terrifying incident that left her dad seriously injured.
Tiger Woods' daughter speaks out
Tiger Woods' daughter, Sam Woods, had something to say about her dad and his medical troubles as she gave a speech during his induction to the Golf Hall of Fame on March 9. The teenager spoke eloquently in front of her father's peers, sharing how the year prior he was "stuck in a hospital bed" experiencing one of his "ultimate lows," while calling it one of the "scariest moments" of their lives.
She then spoke directly to her famous father from the podium, telling Tiger — who was sat in the audience alongside his girlfriend, Erica Herman — that the Woods family "didn't know if you'd come home with two legs or not" after he first got into the accident. "Now, you're not only about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you're standing here on your own two feet," she continued. "This is why you deserve this, because you're a fighter."
Sam's sweet words for her father came less than four months after Tiger spoke out about his injuries and future in the sport to Golf Digest, revealing if he'd ever play golf professionally again. "I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day — never full time, ever again — but pick and choose," he explained. "I think that's how I'm going to have to play it from now on. It's an unfortunate reality, but it's my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it."
Tiger Woods' family rallied around him
Sam Woods' comments about her dad, Tiger Woods', recovery appeared to mark the first time she'd spoken in such a public way about the incident, though it seems like having his family around him is one of the major things that has helped the sportsman along with his recovery.
"Being a dad has helped [Tiger] stay focused on his recovery. At times, it's been very difficult for him both physically and mentally," a source told People in October 2021. "His leg injuries caused him extreme pain. He is a fighter and has been determined to get better though."
Tiger's friend and New York Yankees player Aaron Hicks — who is the boyfriend of Tiger's niece, Cheyenne Woods — also spoke openly about how much the pro golfer was determined to get better for his family, saying in February 2021 (via New York Post), "Making sure he can be a father again and being able to enjoy and run around and play with his kids is what's important right now."
His nearest and dearest were clearly there every step of the way in his recovery, with his girlfriend, Erica Herman, being photographed by paparazzi visiting Tiger in the hospital. Tiger also explained to Golf Digest in November 2021 how he'd ask Herman and close friend Rob McNamara to throw him things while he was recovering in his hospital room so he could keep using his hands while worried he could lose his leg.
The tough recovery process
Despite having such a strong support system around him, there's no doubting the recovery process has been a long and tough one for Tiger Woods.
Dr. Anish Mahajan of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center detailed the sportsman's extensive injuries on Tiger's Twitter account in February 2021, explaining Sam Woods and Charlie Woods' dad suffered "open fractures" on his right leg and had to have emergency surgery that resulted in a rod in his tibia as well as screws and pins in his foot and ankle. "Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling," Mahajan added.
Of course, with such extensive injuries, Tiger had to put his career on hold, something he's admitted he found pretty "frustrating" a year after the accident. "You will see me on the PGA Tour, I just don't know when and trust me I'd love to tell you that I'll be playing next week," Tiger explained to CBS Sports' Jim Nantz and Sir Nick Faldo in February (via PGA Tour). "But I don't know when, which is frustrating in that sense, because I've been down this road before with my back when I didn't know when I was going to come back."
Tiger seemed optimistic about his future while chatting with Golf Digest in November 2021, though, admitting, "I don't have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life."