‘Sheer Will’: A Heartfelt Tiger Woods Locker Room Story From 2003

Tiger Woods is considered the greatest golfer of all time. He has won over eighty championship titles at the PGA Tour alone and victories are still celebrated in the golf world even today. However, the fans never had the chance to learn more about the hardships he had to face while winning these titles. 

“He was very sick from food poisoning, and every few holes, he was throwing up,” said Rick Roberts, the Bay Hill locker room attendant of 19 years, who still remembers how bad Woods’ health was while competing at the 2003 Bay Hill Invitational. The event later changed its name to Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

Roberts once explained that it was his first year of working as a locker attendant. And he got to understand how professional Woods is at that tournament. On top of his illness, the bad weather had made the golfer’s situation worse. 

“I thought there was no way he was going to finish,” Roberts added. He explained that even though neither Woods’ health nor the weather was in his way, he still wanted to go out and win the championship. “He asked for a Gatorade,” he said, remembering the energy drink the golfer requested for.

Even though he went through such a tough time, Woods won the Bay Hills in the end, with a huge 11-shot lead. 

His health was in bad shape, and so was the weather. He could have given up in the middle of the tournament. However, as the locker attendant of Bay Hills recalled, Tiger was all about “sheer will”.

What did Tiger Woods think about the incident? 

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Woods became the only golfer in 73 years to win the same championship four times in a row at the 2003 API. His 19-under 269 was an exceptional score as well, considering the bad weather and his health conditions. 

The life of a champion is never easy. Although he was not keeping well, Woods’ determination and sportsmanship were the key factors that led him to win the event. 

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