OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 9.00pm.
AMERICAN golfing sensation Tiger Woods said on Thursday he wants to spread the word about golf to South Africa’s disadvantaged black children.
Woods, on his first visit to the country, made his first comments about race since arriving last Monday for the Million Dollar challenge and a 10-minute meeting with President Nelson Mandela.
“To come down here not only to meet the president but also play golf in Africa, particular South Africa, for the first time is something I’ve always wanted to do, especially with all the racial differences that South Africa has had,” Woods said at the end of his level-par first round at the Sun City event, the richest prize in golf.
Woods, the biggest crowd-puller at the tournament, was inspired by the number of black faces he saw in the galleries. “It’s really nice that I can come down here as a person of colour and look at the galleries out here today. A lot of kids of African nature, people of colour, coming out is just great,” he said.
Woods said he will return to South Africa to give golfing clinics, but previous commitments, including the President’s Cup in Australia next week, have ruled out any dates this year.
“One day I would love for my foundation to come here and do some clinics and hopefully inspire some kids, and give them some hope and provide an opportunity for them to play this game,” he said.–AFP
THEY SAID IT
“I am still in the tournament and hopefully tomorrow I will take advantage of the opportunities when they come.”– World number-one golfer Tiger Woods after finishing on a level-par 72 after the first round of his debut Million Dollar championship at Sun City on Thursday.
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