Woods reflected on leaving Stanford University early(Image: WireImage)
Golfing legend Tiger Woods has opened up on the one regret he has from his career and personal life – and it’s not what many might expect from the 15-time major champion.
Tiger Woods has revealed the one thing in his life he’d change, and it’s not what you’d think. Despite a well-publicized divorce that left his wife heartbroken over his multiple affairs, the Californian golf luminary says he regrets jumping into his pro career sooner than he should have.
During a deep conversation with CBS Sports, Woods reflected on leaving Stanford University early, stating: “The only regret I have in life is not spending another year at Stanford, and I wish I would’ve had one more year.”
Pushed to consider if this truly topped his list of regrets, even with the turbulence he’s faced both professionally and personally, Woods stood firm, asserting: “All the things and that’s all.”
This admission is quite telling, especially against the backdrop of the high-profile personal crisis that saw his image tarnished, after he admitted to multiple affairs while married to Elin Nordegren resulting in a severing of ties with several sponsors.
Earlier, Woods had acknowledged his missteps, saying: “I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable,” following the revelation of his private misdeeds, reports the Mirror.
The CBS reporter delved deeper by inquiring: “Everything? ” To which Woods reiterated: “All the things I’ve been through are tough, yes. They’ve been tough, but they’ve been great for me, but I wish I would’ve gone one more year at Stanford.”
The golf prodigy took up a place at the esteemed university in 1994, thanks to a golf scholarship, and swiftly secured a win at the William H. Tucker Invitational that September.
Choosing economics as his field of study, Woods shone both in the classroom and on the golf course for the Stanford Men’s Golf team.
During his short but remarkable time at the university, Woods matched the record with 11 tournament wins. Reminiscing about his time with the Stanford golfers, Woods shared: “I had such a great time playing golf at Stanford. Just all the practicing, playing and qualifying. It was always fun being around each other. What sets Stanford apart is the combination of quality athletics with an unmatched educational experience.”.
“Our Provost was Condeleeza Rice. My economics teacher was one of President Clinton’s advisors. You don’t see that at most schools. It was so intellectually stimulating to be challenged all the time. There was no way I could compete against some of those people. They were so smart. One kid had a photographic memory, and another built a computer from scratch.”
He went on to say: “I really enjoyed being stimulated by the students and professors. Some were geniuses and others were Olympic athletes. It’s amazing how well-rounded they are. That’s what’s so cool about it. You must soak up that experience. It was one of the best times in my life.”
Despite his early departure from Stanford, it seems to have been a key factor in his remarkable success. He now has four PGA Championships, five Masters victories, three US Opens, and three Open Championships under his belt.
With an impressive 82 PGA Tour wins, Woods has ruled the sport like no one else, holding the World No. 1 spot for an unmatched total of 683 weeks.
His most recent major victory, a fifth Masters jacket, was won in 2019, where he beat top competitors by just one stroke. In the current season, Woods continues to compete with passion, participating in all four majors and successfully making the cut at the prestigious Augusta Masters.
