Monday, September 25, 2000
Woods brings inner city clinic tour to
Norfolk
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — It was almost a year ago that 17-year-old
Xerxes Nabong put his golf clubs away. He was frustrated with
his game and thinking about giving it up.
Then he heard about Tiger Woods coming to town to run a clinic
for up-and-coming junior players. In June, he picked up his clubs
again for the first time in eight months.
“I was hitting the ball a lot better than last year,”
Nabong said.
On Labor Day weekend, Nabong and three other products of the city's
youth golf program squared off on the course, a session with Woods
the prize to the winner.
Nabong won, making a par on the final hole to edge one of his
good friends.
On Sunday, along with about two dozen other junior golfers, Nabong
got his chance to work with Woods when the Tiger Woods Foundation
brought its mission of using golf to help inner city kids learn
valuable life lessons to the city's Ocean View Golf Course.
“It went pretty well,” the rising high school senior
with a 3 or 4 handicap said. “I wasn't really as nervous
as I thought I'd be meeting Tiger Woods. It was exciting.”
Woods helped Nabong with his swing, suggesting he not reach as
far outside, pull the club straight back and pinch his shoulders
together to add more power.
During each session with the wide-eyed kids, Woods first shook
hands and introduced himself, watched them hit a few balls and
then gave them some tips.
The advice was usually only partially golf related.
“Practice. Work hard. Stay focused,” Nabong said Woods
told him before moving on to help another golfer. “That should
help you through everything in life.”
Woods' visit also included an auction Saturday night to raise
money for local junior golf programs, clinics with other young
golfers and a hitting demonstration by Woods.
During his interaction with the golfers, Woods realized his fame
was a barrier.
“There were quite a few who, when they shook my hand, wouldn't
look me in the eye,” Woods said. “I said, `If you want
to be a man, look 'em square in the eye and say your name.' A
lot of them said `I'm sorry,' and I said, `Don't be sorry, be
a man.'
“One of the kids just lit up. He said, `Yeah, I want to do
that.'”
The foundation, started in 1997, also honored Al Hatten, a retired
drill sergeant who 11 years ago helped start the Tidewater Youth
Golf Association. The organization uses golf to help teach kids
that the sport can offer lasting lessons in responsibility.
“I don't find any bad children,” Hatten said after receiving
the foundation's local hero award from Woods' father, foundation
president Earl Woods. “I find some that need more care and
attention than others, but I don't find any bad ones.”
Woods also fielded questions from the children ranging from what
his practice habits were to if he had a girlfriend and if he'd
ever played golf with Michael Jordan.
“Actually, I have,” Woods said. “And I've got some
of his money in my golf bag.”
He also told one child who asked if he has unachieved goals that
he does.
“But I'm not going to tell you what they are,” he added.
“That's part of me. There is no greater satisfaction than
having your own personal goal and achieving it.
“You don't have to have anyone know about it. It's just the
great joy you feel from accomplishing your own goal, whether it's
hitting one shot, winning one tournament, getting an 'A' or even
getting a 'B' in a class that you thought you were terrible at.
“It's that little thing that no one needs to know but you.”
Through it all, the young golfers and adults seemed to hang on
Woods' every word.
“Meeting Tiger Woods,” Nabong said. “That's about
as big as you can get in golf.”
Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address) of This Story
to A Friend:
|
