Honored to have Painted Tiger Woods Father for 2019 Presidents Cup

“I’ve cried in pretty much every Cup we’ve won,” Tiger Woods told Golfweek on the heels of winning the Presidents Cup, adding,“I’ve been doing this a long time. Any time you have moments where you’re able to do something that is bigger than us as an individual, is so much more meaningful and so much more special.”

 

Tiger’s words resonated with me all the more after I learned that he had been overcome with emotion last week in Australia, just before the start of the Presidents Cup, when he was presented with my original watercolor painting of his father, Earl. The black and white watercolor depicted the senior Woods when he played college baseball for Kansas State in the 1950’s.

 

Earl Dennison Woods was the first African American to play in the Big Eight, and was drafted by the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues, but he passed on the opportunity to begin his Army career, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam and retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. 

 

In Australia last week, as is tradition at the Presidents Cup, the caddies presented the captain (Woods) with a present. The gift, a James Fiorentino, original, commissioned for the occasion, was presented to Tiger Woods by caddy John Wood. Tiger was reportedly very emotional when he saw the painting, which was an honor for me on multiple levels – not only did I get to to paint Tiger’s Dad,  but for the Presidents Cup event as well.

 

Tiger Woods is one of those iconic athletes who has forever changed the sport, a feat accomplished by very few. I’ve been a fan since Tiger first came on the golf scene, and it was an almost unthinkable honor to have been commissioned to paint his father, Earl. 

 

Tiger, the youngest captain ever in the Presidents Cup, played incredibly in all his matches — setting an example for his teammates, who bonded to win a come-from-behind victory, proving just how close all the guys were at this event.