It was the 10th edition of the ever-prestigious Presidents Cup. And, as usual, it was a serious moment with the community focused on the golfers, including Tiger Woods. But one person’s attention was on something else entirely. Hard to blame her, if you take a look at what she was focused on. Enter Davis Love III’s squirrel. Yes, it’s the same animal you’re thinking about! The fuzzy-haired, four-legged rodent.
Forget the golf that was played on that October round. For the real star of the day, or even that week, came to be Sammy the squirrel (Yes, that’s his name!). It became an overnight star, all thanks to Woods’s then-girlfriend and now ex, Lindsey Vonn, as per old records from Business Insider.
It all started at the second hole of the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, where the assistant captain of the U.S. team, Love III, found the small creature. Fearing it might get trampled or even killed in an accident, the kind-hearted athlete scooped it up, after which the furry friend became his new pal.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Now the iconic moment came hours later when Tiger Woods’s then-girlfriend Vonn borrowed Sammy from Love’s pocket. Why did she do that, you might ask? Comical as it may seem, the American Alpine skier took the squirrel and placed it on the then-14-time major champ’s shoulders. Do mind the moniker, since he had only 14 major victories back then, and it was six years before he became the U.S. skipper.
His reaction? Well, who wouldn’t be surprised if you suddenly found a furry creature on your shoulders? The same was the golfer’s case as well, after which his cool demeanor came off for the slightest moment. The cameras could spot the pro, shrugging Sammy off as his then-girlfriend laughed her heart out beside him. Although he was later spotted with the four-legged rodent, the move Vonn pulled off on Woods remains quite memorable to this day. So much so that it overshadowed the game on day 1 of the 2013 Presidents Cup.
Tiger Woods shines on day 1 of the 2013 Presidents Cup
The rattled 82-time major champ, at the end of the day, managed to awe his fans once again. He had teamed up with Matt Kuchar to defeat the likes of Angel Cabrera and Marc Leishman of the International team. They did so by scoring 5 points on the Fourballs, a point more than the 4 that the latter duo put up on Day 1.
What’s your perspective on:
Did Lindsey Vonn's antics at the President's Cup outshine Tiger Woods' performance? What do you think?
Have an interesting take?
After four days of play, the American squad managed to beat their rivals (yet again!) by carding a figure of 18.5 points. The International team, on the other hand, could only garner 15.5 points despite dominating the singles Sunday 7.5 – 4.5. Now, more than a decade later, that year’s biennial event stands as a testimony to the grit showcased by both teams, alongside the cameo role of a small, furry friend! Entertaining, to say the least!
Have something to say?
Let the world know your perspective.
Debate
Did Lindsey Vonn's antics at the President's Cup outshine Tiger Woods' performance? What do you think?