In the fall of 1994, Woods was robbed in the parking lot of Stanford University. During the time, the golfer was at the top of the Amateur golf scene, after becoming the youngest US Amateur Championship winner at age of 18. However, his then-newfound status could not help him fight the robbers.
Tiger was punched, knocked down, and had a knife to his throat. The thieves stole a gold chain from the future Billionaire. Following the devastating incident, Woods called his father a day later. Though the golfer was humorous with his approach, it still worried Earl Woods.
While speaking to Los Angeles Times in 1995, the Senior Woods shared his thoughts on the mugging incident. He disclosed how there’s nothing much his 18-year-old son could have done to avoid the unprecedented incident. However, Earl did suggest Tiger be alert in future instances.“The only thing Tiger can do, from a counterterrorist point of view, is to be alert”.
Woods said, “But who expects to be mugged in front of their own house in a well-lit parking lot?” Surely, what are the odds of being mugged in front of your own house? Fortunately for Tiger Woods, it was only a matter of months before he was surrounded by the world of golf.
And 29 years after the incident, there is hardly any occurrence where Woods can be found by himself alone in the parking lot. Nonetheless, mugging can happen at any place and at any moment. However, only this time the Hall of Famer will be alert, thanks to his late father’s valuable advice.