Tiger Woods on Presidential Medal of Freedom: 'This Has Been an Unbelievable Experience'

[Dogfish Head]

.@TigerWoods delivers remarks after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House! pic.twitter.com/2m1HSdabJh
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 6, 2019​

TIGER WOODS WAS AWARDED the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Monday at the White House.

GolfChannel.com reported:

"This has been an unbelievable experience," said Woods, who then fought back tears as he thanked his family and all those who have supported him throughout the years.
"I’ve battled. I've tried to hang in there," Woods continued. "I've tried to come back and play the great game of golf again. I've been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to do it again …
"The amazing Masters experience I had a few weeks ago was certainly the highlight of what I've accomplished so far in my life on the golf course."
Woods is the fourth golfer to be awarded the Medal of Freedom, joining Arnold Palmer (2004), Jack Nicklaus (2005) and Charlie Sifford (2014), the latter of whom Woods called “the grandfather that I never had” and named his son after.
"To have been chosen as the next golfer after Charlie is truly remarkable," Woods said.​

Source: Tiger Woods on Presidential Medal of Freedom: 'This Has Been an Unbelievable Experience'

 

[PaPaD]

I'm not sure how I feel about any athlete receiving a Presidential honor. This medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes those people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors". Athletes play games for money. I'm trying to wrap my head around what that does for our country other than provide entertainment.

 

[TEA Time]

He's not the first athlete, or even the first golfer to receive it.

However, while his private endeavors have been significant (he won more golf tournaments when people said he couldn't), I don't agree that Tiger has made an "especially meritorious contribution" to anything on that list that is deserving of the medal.

This is simply one "cheated-on-my-pregnant-wife-with-a-porn-star golfer" giving another "cheated-on-my-pregnant-wife-with-a-porn-star golfer" a medal that is reserved for honorable people. I think it's despicable.

 

[azgreg]

Don't like it at all.

 

[PaPaD]

I know it's been given to other athletes and golfers. Nothing against Palmer or Nicklaus, but I am struggling to understand what any of them offered to our national security, national interests, world peace, etc. I guess as a retired DoD civil servant that was able to ACTUALLY contribute to our national security, I have different goggles on when viewing this issue.

 

[ualtim]

I get Palmer and Nicklaus. Their contributions to society beyond golf are legendary. In Orlando, there are hospitals built by Palmers contributions and fund raising efforts alone.

With Tiger, it feels as though he got the medal for tapping more Perkins waitresses than Trump could ever dream of. Legendary indeed.

 

[IrishGolfer]

I see the arguments here and broadly agree. But Tiger has single-handedly grown golf and the associated economy for the last 20 years. He was/is the next generation from Jack / Arnie / Seve / Greg. You could argue he has created jobs, etc. But yes, he is hardly a shining example of goodness/morality. Trump digs him because he's a golf nut!

 

[sssmokin]

I see the arguments here and broadly agree. But Tiger has single-handedly grown golf and the associated economy for the last 20 years. He was/is the next generation from Jack / Arnie / Seve / Greg. You could argue he has created jobs, etc. But yes, he is hardly a shining example of goodness/morality. Trump digs him because he's a golf nut!

He is not the arrogant prick he used to be. He has had his morality issues, but hey, he's human. How many of us are qualified to judge another human being on their morals. Not me.

 

[sssmokin]

And in recent years, Tiger has created his own charities... ………….don't know the names, but one is for youth soccer, and one is for youth golf for underprivileged kids. And people around the world love the guy, so isn't that contributing to world peace? He hasn't just made a huge contribution to golf in the U.S., but all over the world. He deserves it.

 

[sssmokin]

He's not the first athlete, or even the first golfer to receive it.

However, while his private endeavors have been significant (he won more golf tournaments when people said he couldn't), I don't agree that Tiger has made an "especially meritorious contribution" to anything on that list that is deserving of the medal.

This is simply one "cheated-on-my-pregnant-wife-with-a-porn-star golfer" giving another "cheated-on-my-pregnant-wife-with-a-porn-star golfer" a medal that is reserved for honorable people. I think it's despicable.

While I never cheated on any former wives...………..I have had a couple of former wives...……...and they were real BITCHES from Hell...……….ha. Nobody knows all that went on that caused that past cheating by Tiger.

 

[TheTrueReview]

I’d much rather see Tiger Woods get it than Robert De Niro.