When your dad is Tiger Woods, the world assumes you’ll have a golf club in your hand before you can walk. And while that’s true for her younger brother, Charlie, Sam Woods has always played by her own rules.
Sports were always a big part of Sam’s life-but not golf. She found her passion on the soccer field, and she just capped off her high school career in the best way possible: leading The Benjamin School to its first-ever Florida state championship. On March 1, Sam, a defensive powerhouse and team captain, helped secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Episcopal School of Jacksonville. It was a perfect ending to her time as an athlete.
From the field to the classroom
But now, she’s stepping into a new chapter-one that has nothing to do with athletics. Sam is heading to Stanford University in the fall, following in her father’s footsteps in name only. While Tiger’s time at Stanford was all about golf, Sam is going for the academics, with interests in psychology and biology.
“She’s going to Stanford in the fall, so everything is really trending,” Tiger confirmed, per Golf Digest. Though the university boasts one of the best golf programs in the country, Sam won’t be part of it. She’s charting her own course-one that involves labs and lectures, not fairways and bunkers.
Her decision makes one thing clear: being a Woods doesn’t mean being a golfer. Sam is proving that the family name isn’t just synonymous with golf greatness-it can stand for excellence in whatever path you choose.
A Different Kind of Bond with Dad
Sam and her dad have always shared a strong connection, but their bond wasn’t built on the game that defined Tiger’s career. In fact, she’s been open about the fact that golf took her dad away a lot when she was younger, creating a bit of a disconnect. But over the years, they’ve found common ground in other ways. Whether she was caddying for him at the PNC Championship or delivering a heartfelt speech at his Hall of Fame induction, she’s always been in his corner.
Unlike Charlie, who is fully embracing the pressure of carrying on the Woods golf legacy, Sam has opted out-and Tiger completely supports it. Instead of pushing her toward the sport, he’s simply proud to see her forge her own way. And as she prepares for life at Stanford, it’s clear she’s doing just that.
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