Tiger Woods’ Father Once Asserted That His Son Will Create a Greater Impact Than Buddha, Gandhi, or Nelson Mandela

It is not a secret that the parents of Tiger Woods truly loved their son. They spent all their money and time to help him become the great golfer that he is today. In fact, the golfer had once admitted that his father, Earl Woods, was his best friend and his role model growing up. 

The relationship the father and son shared was not ordinary. They were proud to have each other and never shied from admitting it in public. However, did you know that Earl Woods had once declared that his son would create more impact than some of the world leaders? 

Earl Woods, a proud father of Tiger Woods

“He has a larger forum than any of them,” Earl Woods said when an interviewer asked whether he thoght the golfer would be more impactful than Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Buddha. 

“He’s playing a sport that’s international,” the golfer’s father explained. “Because he’s qualified through his ethnicity to accomplish miracles.” In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Earl Woods revealed that he believes his son is the bridge between East and West. 

“He is the Chosen One,” the proud father of Tiger Woods said. “He’ll have the power to impact nations. Not people, nations,” he added. “The world is just getting a taste of his power.” 

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Woods began his career as a professional golfer in 1996, and his father gave the interview in the same year. Even though the golfer was young and was only at the beginning of his career, Earl Woods was confident in his son’s ability to become a huge influence over the world. 

Woods’ impact on the golf world

Before Woods turned professional, the world considered golf as a hobby for middle-aged or retired men. Nobody considered it as a professional sport, and thus, there weren’t many followers. However, with Tiger Woods in the picture, everything changed. 

Woods’ athletic body and his natural talent in the sport attracted fans of all generations to the sport. His involvement in golf also helped him, the sport, and other players to get more advertisements and endorsement deals from big brands. 

According to Bleacher Report, Tom Lehman was the leading money winner of the Tour with $1.78 million as his career earnings in 1986, 10 years before Woods debuted as a professional. However, in 2005, almost ten years later his debut, Woods ranked on top of the list with $10.6 million as career earnings. 

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Earl Woods was confident in his son’s ability to change the world. Although not as impactful as the likes of Mandela or Gandhi, Tiger Woods’ presence did help make a huge impact in the golf world.