As Tiger Woods marks 30 years since turning pro and hosts the 100th Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, he reflects on legacy, Ryder Cup captaincy, recovery and growing his foundation’s impact beyond golf.
Tiger, it seems like we’ve done this several times through the years, but kind of feels a little different this year. As tournament host, what does it mean to you and the event to be back celebrating the 100th playing of the event?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah, playing the 100th championship here is pretty amazing. For me as a So Cal kid who grew up coming here, coming to this event, LA Open, coming here to Riv, it’s an iconic site. And then to see major championships here, we’ve had our event here, and for a 16-year-old kid just to be able to start here and then now host his own tournament at the same golf course is pretty special.
2026 is a year full of milestones on and off the course, 30 years since you turned pro, your foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the original Learning Lab in Anaheim celebrating its 20th anniversary. You’ve talked about the great legacy being off the golf course for you. What do these milestones mean to you and the future of the TGR Foundation?
Yeah, our first Learning Lab opened up 20 years ago here in Anaheim. To go from that to now expansion at Lulu’s Place here in Southern Cal, and we just opened up a facility in Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia last year and now we’re going to Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. We’re expanding quickly.
We’re serving the underserved, and I think that’s the more important thing is that yes, golf has been a big piece of my life, but it’s not the only part of my life. The educational side and the opportunities that Stanford has provided me and the people that I’ve been able to meet there and that if I didn’t work on my grades, I didn’t work on my education side of it, then I wouldn’t have had that opportunity to go to such a great university
A lot of these kids that we’re serving are first-gens. They don’t really have an opportunity that they deserve, and it’s up to us to be able to facilitate them and give them what they truly deserve, which is an opportunity to be supported. That’s what the TGR Foundation has done for 30 years and we’ll continue to do so.
Q. I’m wondering, how do you feel after all these years knowing that people admire, respect you, and you have so much influence, not only in the game of golf but in sports in general?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I mean, I’ve had a great career, I think, of 30 years. I’ve played out here, been able to chase my dream, which is playing the PGA TOUR, winning golf tournaments, winning major championships, and I’ve met a lot of people along the way, a lot of sportsmen, a lot of great people all around the world. I would never have met any of those people or had relationships with them if it wasn’t for the game of golf, or probably where it all started was with your interview.
Q. Talk just a little bit about Pops, how he got you on the right road.
TIGER WOODS: Yeah, Dad was unbelievable. He was not only my dad, he was my best friend. He was a lot of different things.