Golf superstar Tiger Woods is one proud "girl dad" and loves that people see his daughter, Sam, 14, as "daddy's little girl."
During the launch of the pilot episode of his new Golf Digest series, "A Round with Tiger: Celebrity Lessons," Woods revealed to his first guest, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, that he's very protective of his daughter.
Pinkett Smith asked the PGA Tour winner about the lessons Sam has taught him about being a father, and Woods said with a laugh that he has learned to dislike boys hovering around his girl. The father said he's hoping Sam will never leave home and added that his daughter had taught him to be patient.
Woods' comment warmed the heart of Pinkett Smith, who said that "every dude should have a daughter."
'A Great Father'
Sam Alexis Woods, born in 2007, is the golfer's first child with ex-wife Elin Nordegren. She has a sibling, Charlie Axel Woods, who was born almost two years later. Though Woods and Nordegren divorced in 2010, they've managed to co-parent their children and continue to live in the same neighborhood in separate houses to be near their kids.
In 2014, Nordegren said in a rare People interview that her ex-husband is a great father to their kids. The model said that they did have some animosity after their divorce, but they agreed to work out their differences for the sake of their children.
"That was always my dream, that the kids can have two loving parents that show respect for each other," Nordegren shared.
Though Sam and Charlie are hardly in the public spotlight despite their parents' high-profile relationship, their dad would proudly share photos of them on social media.
Woods enjoys posting the activities he does together with Sam, such as that time his daughter was able to meet the U.S. Women's Soccer National Team when he brought her along to watch the matches. The professional golfer has also been sharing quarantine photos with his family, including how much Sam hangs out with him and his girlfriend of four years, Erica Herman.
Woods also bonds a lot with his son, who seems to be charting the same path in golf as his father. In his new series, the dad also proudly talked about Charlie's natural ability for the sport that made him famous. Woods said that his boy watches him play and hits the same moves.
However, he told Pinkett Smith that he doesn't want to pressure his son to carry on the legacy if it means that Charlie would hate the game later on. Woods said that he doesn't want his son to feel trapped. He wants to make beautiful memories with his son because some of his best memories in golf were of his dad, Earl Woods. His kids never met their grandfather because he died of a heart attack in 2006.
What is Tiger's Show About?
Woods filmed his new Golf Digest series before his accident in April 2021. "A Round with Tiger: Celebrity Lessons" is a four-part show wherein the golfer invites some of his celebrity friends for a round of golf lessons at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Los Angeles.
In between games, Woods and his guests chat about the sport and their lives. The project is from Hollywood director Peter Berg, who also makes his appearance in the episodes. The series is meant to show a more relaxed but intimate vibe to Woods, and it can be streamed on the Golf Digest website.
