You can take the man out of Augusta, but you can’t take Augusta out of the man. Not a real quote, we know. But an apt line to describe the great Tiger Woods. His absence this year on the competitive lush greens in Georgia will be something that the fans will sorely miss. But despite not swinging his club at the iconic venue, he has found another way to make his presence felt on the grand stage.

In a landmark announcement, Tiger Woods shared that he is partnering with ANGC to improve its base within the community it is a part of. “I’m proud to partner with Augusta National Golf Club to expand educational and golf opportunities in the Augusta community.” The TGR Foundation’s main focus will be on providing quality education to the folks in Augusta while also establishing a new par-3 course at the iconic venue.

“Together, we will establish a TGR Learning Lab focused on STEAM education and renovate the historic Augusta Municipal Golf Course, ‘The Patch,” with a new 9-hole short course designed by TGR Design. It means a lot to be able to create opportunities that uplift and inspire the next generation,” Woods’s statement further read, as he shared how much “passion” he had for education.

In a pre-recorded statement in which the golfer was wearing the iconic great jacket, Woods stated that being a part of the holistic improvement of the community is something he was looking forward to being a part of, especially since ANGC means a lot to him. “What an honor to be here and to have this moment to be a part of Augusta National, but just in a different way. To have the ability to design something that will impact the community,” the 82-time PGA Tour winner stated.

The Big Cat’s history with the Masters is amazing. It was the first ever major he won, in 1997. In doing that, he became the youngest-ever winner of the Masters Tournament. It was also the last major he had won, the 15th in 2019. It was nearly 11 years after his 14th major victory, and he became the fifth player to have a gap of over a decade between major wins. It is nice to see him give a helping hand to improve the community along with the golf course, whose history he has been a part of.

“We also recognize the importance of deepening Tiger’s legacy in Augusta and with the Masters, and this we felt was an enduring way that we could be forever connected with Tiger and all he’s done at the Masters and now all that he’s going to be doing in this community.” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley stated after the announcement.

Ridley was the reason why Tiger Woods got into this project. The duo was playing a round of golf before the 2023 Masters when Ridley had casually mentioned that he intended to renovate the municipal course that had become an affordable space for young golfers to practice. The 15-time major winner was interested, and that kicked off a series of conversations and deliberations that culminated in the announcement on social media.

Tiger Woods’s support for education

The education lab that Woods and his team are making at Augusta will be the fourth of its kind in the United States. There are already established learning centers in Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Using the learning labs, Woods aims to improve the education base of the community with key focus areas being Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).

Fred Ridley endorses the learning center, stating, “Investing in STEAM education for our youth will strengthen our community and drive economic growth. It will spark innovation and deliver a skilled workforce that will serve Augusta for many years to come.”  At Augusta, the learning center is slated to open in 2028 and will be built on the site of a former elementary school. The lab will be aimed at Richmond County and the Central Savannah River Area school districts, with access open to all public school students.

A great initiative from the legendary golfer. Despite not being a part of the tight competition that will take place this week, Tiger Woods has found a way to make an impact on Augusta beyond the greens on the course. A true modern great!