Golf

New Woods on path

Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne resembles famous Uncle Tiger beyond appearances

By DAVE SCHEIBER
Published June 28, 2007

	Cheyenne Woods, 17, has inspired comparisons to her famous uncle, Tiger.
[Times photo: Brian Cassella]

LAKE BUENA VISTA – The first thing you notice about 16-year-old Cheyenne Woods is her uncanny facial resemblance to famous Uncle Tiger. The second thing is just how much she looks like him swinging a golf club.

The standout junior golfer from Phoenix drove the ball straight and deep consistently Wednesday at Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course. Woods was among 44 top minority athletes from around the country competing in a "junior-am" round of the eighth annual William "Bill" Dickey Invitational Junior Golf Championship, teeing off at the resort today and Friday.

Her team finished well out of the top 10, but Woods was clearly the star of her foursome with consistently strong play and some stellar shots - nearly landing an eagle on the second hole, then hitting her drive to within a foot of the pin on the next hole.

It was the kind of play she exhibited recently in leading her high school, Xavier College Preparatory, to the state championship in Arizona, highlighted by rounds of 68 and 68 - one stroke off of tying the state record. And she'll be returning in the fall as a senior.

"Cheyenne saw Tiger on TV when she was a little girl and that encouraged her, but the big thing was getting her first set of clubs from her grandfather, " said mother Susan Woods, a fixture at all her daughter's tournaments.

Cheyenne's grandfather was Earl Woods, Tiger's late father. She is the daughter of Tiger's half-brother.

"Cheyenne has been great, " the PGA legend said at a news conference at the Buick Invitational in January. "... She's shooting some unbelievable numbers and starting to understand the game. It's fun to see. Occasionally we'll talk about it, and it's neat for me to see her progress from - I remember the day she first started. She started in the garage where I started. I'll never forget that day."

And he's as proud of his niece as a person: "She's super-great, super-nice, extremely intelligent."

A kid with a 3.3 grade point average - and an average drive of 245 yards.

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Cheyenne, who won the Dickey Invitational two years ago and finished second last year, talked about her game and family ties Wednesday afternoon:

Do people tell you that you bear a resemblance to Tiger?

I hear that all the time. They say it's my smile or that my cheeks look like Tiger's. I look at pictures, but I don't really see it.

Do you hear from Tiger a lot?

I see him a couple of times a year. We talk on the phone a little bit. He'll call and ask me how I did in tournaments and I tell him how I finished. And he's always wondering how I'm doing in school.

Does it inspire you to see him play?

Yeah, definitely. I'll talk to him on the phone and then watch him play on TV. It's crazy, but it really makes me want to go out and play the best I can.

Does the pressure of being Tiger's niece ever get to you when you're playing?

Sometimes it does, but I just have to learn how to ignore it and block it out and focus on what I'm doing on the course. I just need to play how I play and do my own thing and not worry what other people are thinking.

Do you emulate Tiger in any way?

From my point of view, I don't try to do anything in particular. But I've had other people tell me that I play a little bit better under pressure and that my composure on the course is Tiger-like. I seem to be able to play well getting out of trouble.

How do you feel you did (Wednesday)?

My irons are pretty good right now. I got them together. My drive was a little off. But overall I felt pretty good.

Does being Tiger's niece make it hard to be a normal teen?

It's okay; I'm used to it. I've had (to deal with) it since I was in third grade. I don't mind it. I understand why people want to talk to me. If I met somebody in that situation, I'd want to ask a lot of questions, too. And when I'm at home, nobody really talks about Tiger or anything. I just live my own life.

What do you like to do other than golf?

I hang out with my friends, listen to hip-hop music, go to the mall. I competed in track and field this year at school - mostly the long jump. I really enjoyed it because it gave me a little break from golf.

Was there a golf turning point for you?

Yeah. It was at the U.S. Kids championships when I was 10. I birdied the last two holes, and then I came back and ended up winning. That was my first big win at that point. I learned how to come back, win and be focused.

What are your school plans?

Well, I'm going into my senior year and I want to play golf in college. I don't have a preference yet about where I might go - anywhere I can play golf will be fine.

Do you dream about a pro career?

I do. I'd like to be one of the top pro players. Not just being Tiger's niece but actually being known as a competitive player, somebody to look out for.

Is there a downside to the attention?

Well, it's hard to get past the label of being Tiger's niece, but I guess I just have to work extra hard and prove myself as a player, not just as somebody's relative.

Does Tiger give you advice?

He tells me to make sure to have fun.

Dave Scheiber can be reached at scheiber@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8541.

[Last modified June 28, 2007, 03:36:00]