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Father knows best Earl Woods feels 'immense pride'
Many years ago Tiger Woods father gave this advice: "Just beat the golf course. Everything else will take care of itself." Now as we watch the 24-year-old Woods play his game we can almost envision the advice taking form. Shortly after the conclusion of the British Open, CNNSI.com's Tom Rinaldi visited with Earl Woods at his home to get his thoughts on the world's greatest golfer who also happens to be his son. Tom Rinaldi: What was the feeling in you after you saw Tiger sink the final putt to win the British Open? Earl Woods: Pride. An immense sense of pride overcame me. It didn't overcome me. I was sitting there all by myself in this house with my two dogs. And when he bent over and took his ball out of the hole and then raised up and the smile just spread on his face. It just lit up the whole world. Rinaldi: How difficult is it for you not to be there to get the embrace when he wins the British Open, the U.S. Open, when he makes history? Woods: That hug [at the Masters] brought closure to the tournament. It was finished until he hugged me. But when he was in my arms, the tournament was over. He has outgrown that now. He really doesn't need that to bring closure to the tournament. So, it does not bother me not be there, because our relationship does not need validating every day.
Rinaldi: Is your training of Tiger over? Woods: No, no, no [shakes his head]. Rinaldi: Will it ever be over? Woods: I will paraphrase that by asking you a question: Is parenting ever over? Parenting never ends. It is like a painting that never gets completed because you always see something else that needs to be added and there's always improvements that can be added. Rinaldi: in 1996 you said, "Tiger will do more than any other human in history to change to course of humanity." Do you still believe that? Woods: I believe it, yes. Tiger's contribution to mankind is not going to be golf. It'll be bigger than golf and it will transcend golf. It will be humanitarian in aspect or socio-logical in context. I don't know which way. Tiger is just now barely getting in touch with his own power. I have the power also and I recognize it and I use it. He is just getting aware that he has this power and when he is in full control of this power, he can then make a difference in the world. Rinaldi: You were criticized in the media as an overbearing father, as a stage parent. Do you feel vindicated now? 
Woods: It really doesn't make any difference how I feel because I don't need to feel vindicated. It is sufficient for me to know that other people now know what I knew all along. They were just too stubborn to see it. Rinaldi: Right now, in your mind, is he the greatest golfer ever? Woods: Yes, bar none. He'll have to prove it over a period of time to be the greatest champion. But he's the greatest golfer because he brings to the table things that no other golfer ever had. Yes, when I talk about Tiger [tears fill his eyes], sometimes I do get emotional. That's the deep, personal love that we have for each other. The respect and trust that we have and we've earned it. It's just a bond.
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