PALM HARBOR - Jim Marshall has introduced thousands of golfers as a volunteer with the Florida State Golf Association.
But never one named Tiger.
Yet there they were Wednesday morning at the Westin Innisbrook Resort during the opening round of U.S. Open qualifying. Before the sun had climbed from the tree line and the gallery had gathered around the first tee, Tiger stood with his driver in hand, ready to pounce on the 445-yard par-4.
"Now playing from Bartow, Florida," said Marshall, pausing for a breath, "Tiger Godwin.
"Hit away, please."
In a world where Sunday hackers wonder if Tiger Woods is the best ever, 19-year-old Tiger Godwin is just trying to get by. Woods' invite to next month's U.S. Open was mailed years ago.
Godwin, meanwhile, is clawing out of a driver-size shadow. That's fine with the other Tiger, a freshman at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla.
"There's a little more pride when I step on the tee whenever they say Tiger," Godwin said. "It's a good feeling. I like my name."
There are seven Tigers listed as United States Golf Association members, said Carol Swanton, a USGA official. But Godwin was the only one attempting to qualify for the USGA's biggest tournament, the U.S. Open.
And unlike Woods, whose first name is actually Eldrick, Tiger Godwin was born with his monicker. His father is Walter, but everyone calls him Tiger too, after the orange and black mascot of Exxon gas stations.
When the Godwins use to fill up at the Exxon station, attendants put a tiger tail sticker on their car.
"You have a tiger in the tank," said little Tiger's grandfather, 65-year-old Walter Godwin.
Walter Godwin called his son Tiger ever since. Big Tiger, now 38, passed on the tradition more formally when his first child was born in 1984.
"He's Tiger and I'm Tiger, but it has nothing to do with Tiger Woods," said Tiger the elder, who acted as caddie and coach during Wednesday's round.
Little Tiger plays up his bond with golf's biggest name, even though physically the two are quite different. At 5 feet, 8 inches and 125 pounds soaking wet, Godwin wears a white short-sleeve mock turtleneck with the name Tiger embroidered on the sleeve. The name's also sewn into his green and yellow Webber Warriors golf bag.
He covers his 42-inch driver with a white tiger, as well. Others have stuffed tigers on their clubs, like Joe Paolini of Palm Harbor and Daniel Harari of Mexico, but Godwin owns his stripes.
Godwin first hit a golf ball when he was 4. By the time he was 12, and after Tiger Woods had already won his first green jacket, Godwin got serious about the game. His lowest round is a 64, and he was unbeatable growing up in Polk County, his grandfather said.
At the Copperhead course Wednesday, little Tiger was trying to earn one of five guaranteed positions in the final round of U.S. Open qualifying in Orlando next month.
But, like most of his putts Wednesday, Godwin was well off.
After an unremarkable front nine featuring two bogeys and no birdies, little Tiger lost control of his putter coming home. With three 3-putts and a short par miss in the last nine holes, Godwin finished at 6-over 77, in the middle of the 90-man field.
He had birdie putts on 15 of his 18 holes but didn't make one.
His mother Angela Godwin found it difficult to watch at some points. Her younger son Hunter, 11, asked when Godwin was going to make a birdie.
"The greens were just breaking more than I expected," Godwin said. "They were rolling fast. I wasn't comfortable at all."
Godwin leaves for Kansas on Saturday to compete in next week's National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national championship. From there it will be back to the driving range to prepare for next year's college season and the 2005 U.S. Open qualifying tournament.
Little Tiger has big aspirations for his golfing career. He eventually wants to turn professional and play-for-pay with golf's biggest stars.
He already has a big name.
"I want to play one round with Tiger and beat him on the golf course," he said. "I like Tiger, but he's not my favorite."
