Tiger inducted into CGWBA Hall of Fame

Tiger Woods was inducted into the California Golf Writers and Broadcasters Association (CGWBA) Hall of Fame on Tuesday night during their 55th annual dinner at The Inn at Spanish Bay. Although he was unable to attend, Woods sent a video to express his thanks and appreciation for the honor.

“I’d like to thank the California Golf Writers and Broadcasters Association for this incredible award that I will always cherish,” Woods said.

Former Stanford teammate Conrad Ray, the current men’s head golf coach of the Cardinal, accepted the award on his behalf.

Ray and ex-Stanford golf coach Wally Goodwin were inducted into the Northern California Golf Association Hall of Fame for leading the Cardinal to NCAA titles. Also honored were Steve Desimone of Cal and Mark Gale of San Jose State.

Notah Begay III, who along with Woods and Ray played for Goodwin, accepted for their former coach, who was unable to attend due to illness.

“I’d like to thank coach for providing such a great atmosphere to play,” Woods said.

Tiger, who grew up in Cypress in Southern California, has had great success in the Golden State. Following an outstanding amateur career that saw him win the World Junior Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course, Woods attended Stanford, where he was a two-time All-American and won the NCAA individual championship in 1996.

The top-ranked Woods has collected two of his 14 major championships in California. He won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links by a record-breaking 15 strokes. Tiger also won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, edging Rocco Mediate in a playoff.

“To win two U.S. Opens in the state means so much to me,” Woods said.

Among his 79 PGA TOUR wins, second all-time to Sam Snead’s 82, are seven victories in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and a come-from-behind win in the 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he rallied from six strokes behind with six holes remaining in the final round to beat Matt Gogel.