Tiger Woods has been touched by the outpouring of support across three events last Sunday.
Woods thanked his fellow golfers along with officials and fans who wore red and black in his honour following last Tuesday’s horrific car crash in suburban L. A.
The 15-time major winner, watching TV coverage of the Workday WGC at The Concession from his hospital bed, tweeted saying: “It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the TV and saw all the red shirts.
“To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time.”
Ten hours after the release of the tweet, it had attracted 377,000 ‘likes’.
Many players contesting the final round at Bradenton wore a red shirt and black trousers including good friend Rory McIlroy, Partrick Reed, Kevin Kisner, Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau, Cameron Champ, Jason Day and so many others.
McIlroy, who posted a final round 71 for a 12-under par tally and a share of sixth place, summed-up the mood.
“I guess for us it’s just a gesture to let him know that we’re thinking about him and we’re rooting for him,” said McIlroy.
“Obviously things are looking a little better today than they were on Tuesday, but he’s still got aways to go. He’s got a huge recovery ahead of him.
“But I think just for everyone to show their appreciation for what he means to us out here. If there was no Tiger Woods, there would be — I just think the Tour and the game of golf in general would be in a worse place. He’s meant a lot to us, he still does mean a lot to us and I think that was just a little way to show that.”
Finau, who finished at nine-under par for 14th place in the first WGC of the year, said: “I was pretty inspired. I heard earlier quite a few guys were going to do it. I for sure felt like it would just be a nice touch.
“We’ve enjoyed so many Sundays watching Tiger do his thing. Red and black, we know that’s what Tiger does on Sundays, so to just join in and just let Tiger know we’re supporting him in the best way we can.
“We’re still playing and we miss him out here, but it was cool just to be a part of that today.”
And Day, who finished two shots behind Finau, also spoke of his part in the Tiger tribute: “Obviously just paying respect to Tiger. We hope for the best in wishing him a very quick recovery, just to know that we’re thinking about him”.
It was Woods’ mother, Tida, who had suggested red was his ‘power’ colour and he’s worn red and black in every Sunday round he’s played in his career.
There was also the same sight on Sunday in Puerto Rico when all the officials working at the Puerto Rico Open wore red shirts and black trousers in honour of Woods and gathered together in a group photograph ahead of the final round while a number of LPGA stars competing Sunday in the Gainbridge Championship wore Woods’ red and black colours too including Annika Sorenstam.
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