Tiger Woods’ tips always make for a good story

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Early in the 1990s, when I was a kid reporter thrilled to be writing about sports for a living (nothing has really changed since then, except for my age), I had the fortune of watching Anaheim Western High’s Tiger Woods and his teammates hit golf balls at the Los Coyotes Golf Course driving range.

He’d hit some balls, then stand behind his buddies and say a few things that I’m sure they appreciated because they responded to him with smiles and affirmative head nods.

Just the future superstar of the sports world spending some quality time before sunset with his teenage friends ... talk about a priceless moment.

I was there to do a story for the now-defunct daily Anaheim Bulletin. Woods’ high school golf coach, Don Crosby, urged me to watch the interaction between Woods and his teammates. Crosby told me Tiger didn’t like talking about himself but enjoyed talking up his friends, who included his current buddy, Bryon Bell.

I spoke to Tiger later that week and he was excited to talk about the visit to the range and what it meant for him to be part of the team. ‘You saw that?’ he asked.

Days after the story ran, I felt like I had a decent bond with Tiger, and I had another good one in mind. Since Sports Illustrated had just ran a piece on him, I asked if he’d be willing to give the local readers, ‘Tiger’s 10 tips for a better golf game.’

‘No,’ he answered. ‘The game’s too hard.’

He was right, of course. I mean, you can’t explain genius like this, right?

I thought about Woods’ past rejection when I saw him caddie for Buick contest winner John Abel during a round of golf Monday at Torrey Pines. Hopefully, Abel took notes of the advice Tiger dished. If he decides to write it up, I know my 15-handicap would appreciate it.

-- Lance Pugmire

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