Tiger Woods pinpoints how he was ‘different’ from every other other player on the PGA Tour from the moment he started

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From the moment Tiger Woods emerged on the PGA Tour, it was clear he was destined to do great things.

After Woods’ first win at the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational, 82 victories followed, including 15 major championship titles.

The American’s ability, athleticism, and intimidation helped him dominate during his formative years, and Woods believes several factors made him very different from anyone else at the top end of professional golf.

Why was Tiger Woods different from the moment he started on the PGA Tour?

Speaking in a recent YouTube video shared by the PGA Tour, Woods admitted that his ethnicity meant he was bringing something unique to professional golf.

“I was bringing something different to the sport just because of my ethnicity. How I played was different,” Woods said.

“We were just making the switch from persimmon to metal at that time, so I was outdriving a lot of people. There were certain holes on certain golf courses where players were playing to certain spots, which didn’t exist to me. Physically, I was just different. I had more speed than a lot of people.”

Another aspect of Woods’ demeanour involved intimidation, which was evident when he celebrated. Tiger insists he never attempted to gain an edge over his opponents, however.

“I don’t think my reaction and fist-pumping is an intimidation whatsoever,” Woods added.

“That is just the moment; if you choose to react to it and let that get to you, that’s on you. I am living in the moment and controlling me at that particularly time. The fans are engaged with what they are seeing at that moment, and their excitement level dictates a lot of what comes out of me at times.

“Getting all those emotions in check is one thing I can control. I can’t control other players, and I don’t know if that is intimidating or not, and it wasn’t meant to be. It was meant to be an expression for that one particular moment.”

When is Tiger Woods playing next?

Of course, the Woods of today is very different from the one that dominated during the mid-2000s.

And PGA Tour fans will have to wait to catch a glimpse of Tiger back out on the course. Woods’ game isn’t near Tour standard at the moment despite the American recently playing the PNC Championship in Orlando alongside his son, Charlie.

Realistically, the Genesis Invitational or Masters could be when Woods returns to the course. Both those events are by no means a certainty.

Woods will be in action in the TGL, however. The 49-year-old’s first game is on January 14 at the innovative SoFi Centre in Palm Beach. Woods – along with Rory McIlroy – have helped co-found the indoor league, which starts next Tuesday.