Why doesn’t Tiger Woods’ daughter like playing golf? Reasoning behind Sam’s distaste towards sport

Tiger Woods’ daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, does not enjoy playing the sport that made her father a world-wide sensation, in large part because of the toll that golf had on her childhood

Tiger Woods’ love for golf has clearly carried over to his son, Charlie Woods, who is serving as his father’s swing coach in the U.S. Open. But not everyone in the legendary player’s family has taken a liking to the sport.

During an appearance on the “Today” show back in March, Woods divulged that his daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, has developed a distaste towards golf – in large part because of the way it negatively impacted her upbringing.

“She has, I think, a negative connotation to the game because at that time… when she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her,” Woods said. “I had to pack, and I had to leave and I was gone for weeks and there was a negative connotation to it. So we developed our own relationship, our own rapport that’s outside of golf that we do things that don’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, we do everything golf-related. It’s very different.”

Though Sam doesn’t enjoy playing golf, she’s routinely taken an interest in her father’s accomplishments on the course. Last December, the teenager caddied for Tiger and Charlie during the PNC Championship’s Pro-Am at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

One year prior, Sam delivered a heartfelt introduction speech at Woods’ World Golf Hall of Fame induction, which took place just 12 months after he suffered a horrifying single-car wreck that nearly lost him his leg.

“We didn’t know if you’d come home with two legs or not,” Sam began. “Now, you’re not only about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’re standing here on your own two feet. This is why you deserve this. You’re a fighter, you’ve defied the odds every time.”

Sam Alexis Woods caddied for her father and brother at last year’s PNC Championship ( Image: Getty Images)
Sam may not play golf, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t a star athlete in her own right. Speaking to Golf.com in 2018, Woods revealed that both of his children at the time were big into another sport.

“They’re keen into soccer,” he said. “If they want to play golf, that’s great. If they don’t, that’s fine, too. As long as they have a good time playing sports.

“I find that a lot of fun now, to be able to physically get out and pass the ball around with them. I get such a big kick out of watching them compete and play. It’s so much fun to see how happy and passionate they are about soccer.”

Charlie has since discovered a love for golf similar to his father, and is quickly making a name for himself on the youth circuit. Discussing his son’s presence at this week’s U.S. Open, Woods told reporters: “To have the father-son relationship that we have and to extend it into this part of both of our lives, he’s playing a lot of junior golf, and I’m still playing out here.

“It’s neat for him to see the guys that he watches on TV and YouTube and TikTok, whatever the hell it is that they do.”