Posted on 03/06/2004 5:30:36 PM PST by BohDaThone
Here's the "money quote"
"I wanted to come here because I was raised in the military, with my father being in the Army, and I understand the sacrifices he made for our country," Woods told the troops. "And I understand all the sacrifices you are making for our country, and I wanted to honor that. I want to do whatever I can to make you guys realize how thankful we are for all the jobs you guys are doing for us."
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And the full article.
Woods visits troops near Dubai March 5, 2004 By William Walker PGATOUR.COM Managing Editor E-Mail To A Friend!
George Washington, America's first President, would have been proud of Tiger Woods on this day.
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Woods was flown by military jet to the Navy carrier the USS George Washington, stationed near Dubai, and met with American troops on duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Woods is in the region for the United Arab Emirates' Dubai Desert Classic. And it's been quite a trip. He hit golf balls off a giant helicopter pad earlier in the week, and ended the week by lifting the spirits of hundreds of troops stationed with the Carrier Air Wing (CVW 7) and the USS George Washington (CVN 73) at sea.
Woods and his Orlando neighbor and close friend Mark O'Meara shook hands with troops and toured the flight operations deck, then were given persoanlized tours of the F-18 Hornet from the Strike Fighter Squadron and the F-14 Tomcat from Fighter Squadron 11 Red Rippers.
In return, both Woods and O'Meara ripped some drives off a golf mat, aiming out the ship's hangar bay doors. Hundreds of troops watched as the golf balls sailed out to sea and disappeared.
Tiger Woods gets a look inside a F/A-18C aboard the USS George Washington.(AP) "I wanted to come here because I was raised in the military, with my father being in the Army, and I understand the sacrifices he made for our country," Woods told the troops. "And I understand all the sacrifices you are making for our country, and I wanted to honor that. I want to do whatever I can to make you guys realize how thankful we are for all the jobs you guys are doing for us."
O'Meara added: "We travel a lot playing golf, but we can only do that because of what you all are doing for us. We don't take that for granted. We know the sacrifices you are making out here, and we really appreciate it."
Both players signed autographs for the troops before being jetted back to their golf base at the Dubai Desert Classic.
"This was a real special treat for me," said Navy 1st Class officer Ernest Rash. "I have been a Tiger Woods fan since he was playing college golf. For him to take the time to visit us is awesome. I even got an autograph for my son back home."
Woods also donated three of his Nike drivers, while O'Meara donated three Titleist putters. The players' golf clubs will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the George Washington Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Fund.
Woods' father Earl is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, who did two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Green Berets. He named his son Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods, and Tiger is a reference to Earl Woods' old friend and former Vietnamese soldier Vuong Dang Phong, known by the name 'Tiger,' who was killed in the conflict.
Both Tiger Woods and his father have often told the stories of how the toughness his father learned serving in the Army became a major part of Earl Woods' golf lessons with his young son, helping make the superstar as tough-minded and focused as he is today on the PGA TOUR.
Wed Mar 3,10:44 AM ET
Tiger Woods (news) tees off from the helipad of Dubai's Burj Al-Arab hotel March 2, 2004. Woods will be competing in the Desert Classic tournament, which starts March 4. ( David Cannon/Dubai Desert Classic via Reuters)
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