Tiger's Redeeming Moments

By Alex Myers

May 21, 2015

Shop This Look

Photo By: Donald Miralle

The letter

Informed of a young boy with a stuttering problem who had attempted suicide after being bullied at school, Woods wrote an uplifting letterto him. In it, Woods talked about his own stuttering problem as a child and encouraged Dillon to follow his dreams.

Golf Clinic For Augusta Kids

Tiger's first trip to the Masters included a stop at nearby Forest Hills Golf Club to meet with former Augusta National caddies and host a clinic for kids. "It's a great thing for golf, and it's great especially for black youth," said Jerry Beard, who caddied for Fuzzy Zoeller when he won the 1979 Masters. "It's good for the kids to see you can get into something like this, to see that they can play golf." Even more impressive was Woods doing this after the completion of his second round.

Tournament donations

Tiger Woods donates all earnings from three tour events that benefit his foundation: The Hero World Challenge, Quicken Loans National and the Deutsche Bank Championship. From those three events alone, Woods has donated more than $15 million. Speaking of his foundation. . .

Tiger Woods Foundation

The Tiger Woods Foundation has done a lot of good for children since Woods and his father, Earl, started it in 1996. In 2015 it received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for a third straight straight year. Only 25 percent of the 7,000 charities that were evaluated got four stars, and only 12 percent received that highest possible rating for a third consecutive year.

Support For Fellow Tour Players

It wasn't a grand gesture, but seeing Tiger Woods -- among other tour pros -- wearing a Leuk the Duck pin at the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational meant a lot to Lyle, who was getting chemotherapy at the time after being diagnosed with Leukemia. While accepting the Ben Hogan Award at the 2015 GWAA dinner, Lyle noted Woods specifically and said he was so touched he tracked down Tiger's phone number. When Lyle texted him, he got this response: "Good luck. Thinking of you. Can't wait to see you back."

Support For His School

When Woods lived at Isleworth, he hosted the Stanford golf team for dinner at his house while the Cardinal were competing in a tournament at the club. He also checks in with the team from time to time in Palo Alto, providing a huge thrill for players getting to meet him.

Support For Former Teammates

Woods also has a strong relationship with former Stanford teammate Notah Begay. When Begay was inducted into the school's hall of fame, it was Woods who gave a lengthy introduction speech. Woods has also participated in Begay's yearly fundraiser at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in upstate New York several times.

Support For Lindsey

Before Woods and Lindsey Vonn were Facebook official, Woods showed he cared for her in the most first-world way imaginable. After Vonn tore two knee ligaments in a frightening ski accident in February 2013, Woods sent his private jet to Austria to pick her up and bring her home. Yes, the two announced their breakup in May 2015, but we'll always have that private jet gesture.

Charlie Sifford fund

Following the death of black golf pioneer Charlie Sifford, who he often referred to as grandpa, Woods set up a scholarship fund in his honor at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. "He fought, and what he did, the courage it took for him to stick with it and be out here and play, I probably wouldn't be here," Woods said. "My dad would never have picked up the game. Who knows if the clause would still exist or not. But he broke it down."

Ice bucket challenge

Woods participated in this viral fundraiser in August 2014 and even included his friend and rival Rory McIlroy. McIlroy dumped ice water on Tiger who dumped it right back on Rory. Tiger then nominated Nike founder Phil Knight and tennis star Rafael Nadal to help support ALS research.

Commercials

Sure, he's getting paid to do these, but they've been some of the only times we've seen Woods cut loose and show his goofy side. The ad in which Woods imitates Bill Murray's Carl Spackler character from "Caddyshack" stands out in particular.

Hanging With Tommy

When Woods heard three-year-old Tommy Morrissey was a big fan, he set up a meeting with the one-armed golfer. Woods suprised Tommy on the course and even had a putting contest with him.

"Tiger Jam"

Woods' yearly fundraiser in Las Vegas has raised more than $1 million per year for the Tiger Woods Learning Centers across the country. Part of the reason they've been so successful? Woods doesn't skimp when it comes to big-name musical acts performing. From Bon Jovi to Stevie Wonder to Christina Aguilera to John Mayer to Prince, Tiger Jam has had an impressive concert lineup.

Masters Par 3 Contest

Fans saw a softer side of Woods they're rarely treated to when he played in the Par 3 contest at the 2015 Masters and his two children, Sam and Charlie, served as caddies. "I'll always have memories of my pop at Augusta and now Sam & Charlie. An amazing day," Woods said on Twitter.

Photo By: Donald Miralle