Woods Issues Statement About His Heritage

Tiger Woods of Cypress, the 19-year-old amateur who will play in his first U.S. Open this week, issued a statement Tuesday in hopes of deflecting an expected flood of questions from reporters about his racial background.

“The various media have portrayed me as an African-American, sometimes Asian,” Woods said, reading from the statement after his practice round at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. “In fact, I am both.”

“On my father’s side, I am African-American. On my mother’s side, I am Thai,” Woods said “Truthfully, I feel very fortunate and equally proud to be both African-American and Asian.”

Woods, a three-time U.S. Junior champion and youngest U.S. Amateur winner in history, played in his first major professional tournament last April in the Masters and drew huge galleries that watched him lead the tournament in average driving distance.

He will play the first two rounds here with defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa and 1994 player of the year Nick Price of Zimbabwe and already has captured the fancy of crowds at Shinnecock who have followed him. He played two practice rounds Monday and two more Tuesday.

“My parents have taught me to always be proud of my ethnic background,” said Woods, adding that it would be the final comment he would make on the subject. “Please rest assured that is, and will be, the case, past, present and future.

“That is who I am. Now, with your cooperation, I hope I can just be a golfer and a human being.”

Woods said his golf has “slipped a little bit” because of the demands of his college courses, but said, “I feel like I have grown emotionally and physically in the last year.”

He finished fifth in the NCAA individual tournament this month, shooting 2-under-par for 72 holes, and missed a 22-foot putt on the last hole that would have given Stanford the team title. The Cardinal lost to Oklahoma State in sudden death.

Woods also said he would finish college before turning pro.

“It’s pretty simple,” the Stanford freshman said. “Three more years and I am out.”