Tiger Woodswas just unveiled as one of the individuals on theannualTIME100 list— and the honor couldn’t be more deserved, according to his friendJustin Timberlake.
Woods, 43, secured the coveted green jacket for the fifth time at The Masters Tournament on Sunday,marking his fifth Masters winover the course of his career and first major victory in over a decade.
Writing about the golf legend inhis excerpt for theTIME100, Timberlake recalled a 2018 meeting between the duo when they “spent time together, just the two of us, talking about being fathers.” (Woods is dad to sonCharlie Axel, 10, and daughterSam Alexis, 11, while the musician shares 4-year-old sonSilas Randallwith wifeJessica Biel.)
“We discussed how we want our children to see us and how you balance your dedication to them with competitive drive,” Timberlake wrote. “I told him about how my son, who just turned 4, has started to realize what I do.”
“We bonded over the fact that we wanted our children to watch us at our best,” he continued. “Tiger told me that he hoped his children, who are 11 and 10, would one day see him win a major.”
Sam Greenwood/Getty; John Shearer/Getty
Tiger Woods with kids Sam and Charlie in 2015.Chris Carlson/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Justin Timberlake/Instagram
“On April 14 in Augusta, Ga., they did just that when Tiger won his 15th career major — and first in 11 years — capping arguably the greatest comeback in sports history,” the singer, 38, praised his athlete pal. “What a dream come true. For Tiger. For all of us.”
Timberlake is, of course, in part describingthe moment directly following his final putt,as he left the course after an initial celebration and took a moment to share hugs with both his children.
Woodsscored 13 under par at the tournament, besting storied competitors includingRory McIlroyandPhil Mickelson. It marks his first major win since he placed first in the 2008 U.S. Open.
“All the work he did when people weren’t watching allowed him to hug his children on the same hallowed ground he hugged his father 22 years ago, amid all the adulation, a Masters champion once again,” Timberlake concluded his tribute for theTIME100, which also includes names likeLeBron James,Dwayne “The Rock” JohnsonandTaylor Swift.
“It means the world to me. Their love and their support, I just can’t say enough how much that meant to me throughout my struggles when I really just had a hard time moving around,” he told reporters athis winner’s press conference. “Just their infectiousness of happiness; you know, I was going through a tough time physically. There was a lot of times when I really couldn’t move and so that in itself is difficult.”
“But just to have them there, and then nowto have them see their Pops win, just like my Pops saw me win here, it’s pretty special,” he added with a smile.
source: people.com
