Tiger Woods Learning Center & AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am

 

 

With Clinton at his side, Woods opens his learning center

 

Chris Carlson / Associated Press

 

PGA golfer Tiger Woods, right, gets applause from former President Bill Clinton

at the opening of the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, Calif.,

Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

 

 

 

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer February 11, 2006

 

 

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Tiger Woods called it the best day of his career, and he never even hit a shot.

Instead of putting a golf club in his hand, he gripped an oversized pair of scissors and cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open his $25 million Tiger Woods Learning Center, aimed at helping children find their way.

 

"A momentous occasion," Woods said.

And it came with a surprise at the end of an hourlong ceremony that featured former President Clinton and Maria Shriver, the wife of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

City officials thanked Woods for bringing the learning center to his old neighborhood, then unveiled a street sign: Tiger Woods Way.

 

That will be on the name of the driveway leading to the center, and the official address will be 1 Tiger Woods Way.

Through it all, Woods was beaming as though he had just won the Masters.

 

 

 

	Grand Opening Joined by former president Bill Clinton and California first lady Maria Shriver, Tiger Woods unveiled his $25 million Learning Center on Friday. The 35,000-square-foot facility will offer programs in science, math and technology to thousands of kids.
	Tiger Woods was joined by celebrity guests and local children at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo: AP)

 

 

 

 

"This is by far the greatest thing that has ever happened to me," said Woods, a winner of 57 tournaments worldwide and 10 major championships. "This is bigger than golf. This is bigger than anything I've done on the golf course. Because we will be able to shape lives."

 

The 35,000-square-foot facility is located next to the H.G. "Dad" Miller Golf Course, where Woods played when he was in high school. Kids who apply by writing letters come to the center after school for interactive programs in science, math and technology.

"I'm impressed Tiger Woods decided to do this when he was 30 instead of when he was 60," Clinton said.

 

Clinton recalled being elected governor of Arkansas when he was 32, the youngest person elected to that position in 40 years. He referred to himself as a "good governor and a political failure."

 

"It's hard to have great gifts and bring them to bear in the public eye under enormous pressure when you're young," Clinton said, then turning to Woods.

"And it's a tribute to you ... that somehow you've been able to amass a stunning, unprecedented record and keep holding yourself up to start giving back at this point in your life."

 

The only sad note to a day of brilliant sunshine was the absence of his father, Earl Woods, who is battling cancer and could not leave his home a short drive away.

Woods nearly broke down when he mentioned the support of his father, just as he did last April when he won the Masters for the fourth time.

 

"I talked to him last night," Woods said. "He kept telling me how proud he was of what I was able to do, and proud of me for thinking of this. It's hard on all of us."

 

The Tiger Woods Foundation was created shortly after Woods turned pro, and although his focus immediately turned to children, he did not have a clear vision of what to do. Woods primarily staged junior golf clinics around the country, later assembling selected kids to attend a clinic in Orlando, Fla. He referred to it as a "circus act," breezing in and out of town and leaving kids little more than memories.

 

That changed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Woods, stranded in St. Louis where a World Golf Championship was canceled, drove to Florida and said he spent most of that time reflecting on his life and the foundation.

 

"I felt we weren't doing enough," Woods said.

That's when he thought of the idea of a learning center, and it took 3 1/2 years from the first meeting with Orange County officials to reach the grand opening.

Woods donated the first $5 million to the project, along with earnings from his Target World Challenge at the end of the season. He was involved in starting a new PGA Tour event, the Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston, which gives its net proceeds to the Tiger Woods Foundation.

 

And he relied heavily on 25 founding partners, which range from Target to Nike to Augusta National.

 

Woods has said he would like to be remembered more for his work with children than the number of majors he ultimately wins, and referred to golf as "merely a vehicle."

It was reminiscent of comments his father made to Sports Illustrated in 1996, after Woods turned pro and won twice in his first seven events to qualify for the Tour Championship. Earl Woods referred to him as the "Chosen one" and said he will "do more than any other man in history to change the course of humanity."

 

Asked about some of his father's comments, Woods smiled and attributed them to "proud parents talking."

"But he's always told me behind closed doors that 'You'll find your way; you'll choose the direction of the foundation,"' Woods said. "This is a step away from golf. This is certainly more important than hitting a high draw or a high fade. This is getting someone prepared for life. And this (center) is going to do that."

 

Clinton and Woods played golf Thursday -- the former president beat him on one hole, but said he finished 25 shots behind over 18 holes.

Clinton took a brief tour of the center before the ceremony, and watched children in their light blue shirts building computer models with Legos and working on forensic science projects. They were among the 5,000 kids that are expected to attend the center by the end of the year.

 

"It's important for us to understand that there has never been a time in our history when private citizens haven't had the ability to do public good," Clinton said.

He encouraged everyone to do their part, and held up Woods as an example.

"If we do our part, we don't have to worry about the future of this country," Clinton said. "I think more likely than not, this will be the most peaceful, exciting, interesting era in our history. But we all have to do our part. And today, you've seen in a beautiful, moving, hopeful way that Tiger Woods has done his."

 

Updated on Saturday, Feb 11, 2006 1:50 am EST

 

 

 

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=ap-tigerscenter&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

 

 

 

 

 

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am

 

 

 

 

 

PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 12: A general view of the seventh green and Monterey Bay during the final round of the AT&T Pro Am on February 12, 2006 at the Pebble Beach Golf Links Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

 

PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Nick Watney chips onto the 17th green during the final round of the AT&T Pro Am on February 12, 2006 at the Pebble Beach Golf Links Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

 

 

PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Arron Oberholser tips his hat to the crowd as he makes his way to the 18th green to celebrate his five shot win over Mike Weir of Canada during the fourth round of AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the Poppy Hills Golf Course on February 12, 2006 in Pebble Beach, California.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.attpbgolf.com/

 

 

http://www.pga.com/news/industry/woods021006.cfm

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news;_ylt=Av5yAJ8ry.w2j.sEOw3yk1kogsUF?slug=ap-pebblebeach&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

 

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060211/SPORTS04/602110366/1048

 

 

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/golf/20060210-1450-glf-tigerscenter.html