PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Death, taxes and Tiger Woods getting into the World Golf Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Woods, the winner of 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour titles, was the lock of the century. The deliberation couldn’t have lasted very long to determine that Woods will be inducted in 2021.
Woods received the news of his impending induction in the male competitor category via phone today from PGA Tour Commissioner and World Golf Foundation Board Chairman Jay Monahan.
“I am both honored and humbled to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame,” said Woods. “This past year has been such an incredible journey and the support I’ve received from my family, friends and fans has been overwhelming. This achievement is the ultimate recognition to never give up and keep chasing.”
Woods is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and completed the “Tiger Slam” in 2000-01 when he became the first golfer since Bobby Jones to hold all four major championship titles at the same time.
“Tiger has done more for the game of golf than anyone ever thought possible, and his historic feats on the course are only one aspect of his impact,” said Monahan. “His imprint on the game is immeasurable, and his unparalleled legacy is one we look forward to celebrating as he’s inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year.”
Woods displayed his vast potential for greatness at a young age. He won three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur Championships and remains the event’s only three-time winner. He followed that up by winning the U.S. Amateur title three times before turning professional in 1996 — “Hello, world” — at the age of 20, and won his first major, the 1997 Masters, by 12 strokes.
He was ranked No. 1 in the world for 683 weeks, the greatest total number of weeks of any golfer in history.
Injuries forced Woods to undergo four back surgeries between 2014 and 2017, and limited him to playing one tournament between August 2015 and January 2018. He returned to win the Tour Championship in September 2018, and capped off one of the greatest comebacks in all of sports by winning the 2019 Masters, his first major title in more than a decade.
“The World Golf Hall of Fame is honored to recognize the incredible career of Tiger Woods,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of the World Golf Foundation. “His impact on the game of golf and everyone associated with it will have a lasting effect on generations to come.”
The World Golf Hall of Fame announced in January that it was lowering the age for consideration to be inducted from 50 to 45, which allowed Woods to be among the 10 finalists. The Class of 2021 is elected by the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee, which discussed the merits of 10 finalists, during a 2-hour meeting on Wednesday.
The 20-member panel is co-chaired by Hall of Fame members Beth Daniel, Nick Price, Annika Sorenstam and Curtis Strange, and includes media representatives and leaders of the major golf organizations. Up to four new members can be inducted in a given year. The rest of the 2021 Class will be announced at a later date.
The date and location of the 2021 induction ceremony has yet to be announced.