What do you think about Tiger Woods as a person? Well, the opinion might vary from person to person. There have been a lot of instances that describe the 15x major champion as a kind-hearted person. However, his kindness isn’t only limited to the people he meets on professional greens but he also once showed his admiration to his son Charlie’s high school golf coach as well.
The story dates back to 2023 when Golf.com interviewed Toby Harbeck, the head boys’ golf coach and an English teacher at the Benjamin School. While they talked about a lot of things Harbeck also revealed a story where Tiger Woods decided to involve himself with high school golf. Woods used to fill Charlie’s El Campeon yardage book with notes. In the notes, he also mentioned something about layup.
Talking about it Harbeck said “I used to always encourage the kids to lay up at the bottom of the hill. Tiger thought, and it was in the notes, that it’s better to lay up at the top of the hill because there’s a tree that you’d have to go over at the bottom of the hill. Whereas if you’re at the top, you don’t have to go over that tree.” And the head coach follows that. However the golfer also later showed his appreciation for the coach.
It was about a random match where two high school golfers shot 66. Woods was still recovering from ankle surgery despite that he went out and hugged both the kids who shot 66. Later, the team won the state championship and the golfer was extremely happy about it. Harbeck further talked about it saying “He reached out to bear hug me, I’m telling you, he took the breath out of my chest. That man is strong. Real strong.”
Tiger Woods’s love for his son is also somewhat the same and the father-son duo likes to “just stay in our own little world.” But did you even think that he, a Golfing God, would take another step and express his admiration for Woods Jr’s coach and his high school golf team buddies?
It’s certainly surprising to see that despite having 82 PGA Tour and 15 major wins to his name, the golfer never backs down when it comes to expressing admiration for those around him. Speaking of kindness, Tiger Woods once casually allowed his friend Mark O’Meara to win a hole at the 1998 Cisco World Match Play Championship. That’s not the only incident that speaks about Tiger Woods’s kindness and appreciation for people around him.
Tiger Woods’ hug to Charlie’s coach—Is this the side of Tiger we don’t see enough of?
Last year, a heartwarming moment from the Genesis Invitational went viral, sending waves of emotion through the golf community. As the tournament wrapped up, Tiger Woods walked up to Max Homa, who had just come heartbreakingly close to victory, losing by only two strokes to Jon Rahm. In a moment that transcended the competition, Woods embraced Homa with a hug and a pat on the back, appreciating his effort and spirit. It was a brief, powerful exchange that resonated far beyond the 18th hole. Fans were moved, flooding social media with emotional responses like, “RESPECT! There will ever only be 1 Tiger Woods, but Sir Homa has the Tiger Spirit now.”
Moments like these are rare, but Tiger Woods has a way of creating them. Another unforgettable incident took place back in 2023 when Sahith Theegala shared his first encounter with the 15-time major champion. It was a quiet morning at Riviera, and Theegala was eating breakfast alone, lost in thought. With his back to the door, he didn’t notice the legendary figure approaching. “All of a sudden, someone comes up from behind and just bear hugs me,” Theegala recalled. Startled, he initially thought it was a family member or a friend—until he turned around and realized who it was.
In that instant, Theegala’s world shifted. “I’m f***ing looking at God here,” he thought, stunned by the sheer magnitude of the moment. Tiger Woods, a living legend, had taken the time to surprise him with a gesture of warmth and camaraderie. For Theegala, it was more than just a hug—it was a life-altering encounter with his idol, a reminder of the magic that Tiger still brings to the game.
These moments are why Tiger Woods remains larger than life in the hearts of players and fans alike. It’s not just his achievements—it’s the impact he leaves on those lucky enough to share the same space as him.
