Tiger Woods revealed why he ditched baseball, athletics to play golf

Tiger Woods, an iconic figure in the world of golf, faced disappointment at the 2024 Open Championship held at Royal Troon. Despite his legendary status, Woods struggled on the course, carding rounds of 79 and 77, missing the cut by eight shots. This performance was far from his best, but it doesn’t diminish his standing as one of the greatest golfers of all time. Interestingly, golf was not the first sport he pursued.

In his youth, Woods explored various sports before ultimately choosing golf. In a candid interview with Charlie Rose in November 2016, Woods reflected on his early athletic experiences and how he gravitated towards golf. He shared:
“I have played it basically all my life. I played baseball. I was a pitcher. I ran track and cross country. I liked doing those sports, but I didn’t love it. I kept coming back to golf. I kept finding myself running the miles in track and, especially cross country, getting all that mileage in to get ready to play golf.”

Woods’ decision to focus on golf paid off tremendously. Turning professional in 1996, he quickly rose to prominence, accumulating 15 Major championships and 82 PGA Tour victories. He is tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour wins and is just three Major titles shy of Jack Nicklaus’ record. During his conversation with Rose, Woods recounted how his thoughts constantly returned to golf, even when playing other sports:
“And when I was on the mound throwing, I’m thinking okay this (golf) is like number one okay. I got to position my shot down the right side of the fairway, so this fastball is going to be outside. My mind kept coming back to golf. And so whatever I was doing, it kept coming back to golf.”

In a 1999 interview with the *Atlanta Constitution*, Woods revealed that he initially aspired to be a baseball player like his father. However, after suffering a torn rotator cuff, he abandoned that dream and fully committed to golf.

As the 2024 golf season progresses, many are curious about Woods’ next appearance on the course. This year, he has participated in only five tournaments, including the four Majors. With the conclusion of the Majors for the season, fans and enthusiasts are eager to know when they can next watch Woods in action.

Bob Harig, a writer for *Sports Illustrated* and author of *Drive: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods*, provided some clarity on the matter. He tweeted:
“Tiger said he will not play again before the Hero in the Bahamas and then the ‘fifth major,’ the PNC.”

Woods is set to return to competitive golf in December. His next tournament will be the 2024 Hero World Challenge, held at the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas from December 5 to 8. Following that, he will compete in the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, from December 19 to 22.

However, Woods has been struggling with form lately. In the five tournaments he played this year, he made the cut only at the 2024 Masters, where he recorded his highest score at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club. He missed the Friday cuts at Valhalla, Pinehurst No. 2, and Royal Troon, adding to the challenges he faces as he continues his storied career.

Despite these recent setbacks, Woods remains a formidable presence in golf, and his upcoming appearances in December will be eagerly anticipated by fans around the world.