As former President Donald Trump faced an assassination attempt, the shockwave affected not only the political sphere but also reached legendary golfer Tiger Woods, who reported severe distress during his flight to Scotland.
According to the New York Post, the assassination attempt occurred while Woods was en route to the 2024 British Open, heavily impacting his emotional state.
While traveling from Florida to Scotland on July 13, 2024, Tiger Woods was preparing for his participation in the prestigious British Open.
However, his preparations were marred by distressing news from the United States; former President Donald Trump had been shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the same day.
The rally where Trump was targeted was bustling with his supporters when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire.
Positioned approximately 130 yards away on a manufacturing plant's roof, Crooks used an AR-style rifle for the shooting, which also led to the death of firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50.
Officials later uncovered explosive devices in Crooks' vehicle parked near the rally site. In the chaotic moments following the attack, Crooks was fatally shot by Secret Service agents attempting to neutralize the threat.
The severity and premeditation of the attack were evident from his preparations, and the tragedy of the day resonated across the nation.
The news of the assassination attempt reached Woods while aboard his flight. The golfer, who historically shared a personal friendship and multiple golf sessions with Trump, felt an immediate and profound impact. "It was a long night [because of the assassination attempt], and that's all we watched the entire time on the way over here," Woods told BBC Sport.
Woods disclosed his struggle to focus, confessing that the distress kept him awake throughout the flight and distracted him during his initial practice rounds for the British Open. "I didn't sleep at all on the flight, and then we just got on the golf course," he revealed, indicating the depth of his distress over the incident.
Donald Trump and Tiger Woods shared not only rounds of golf but also dinners, reflecting a deeper personal connection. Trump awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 6, 2019, after his primary victory at the Masters, highlighting a notable bond between the two prominent figures.
Despite the emotional upheaval, Woods participated in a practice round for the British Open on July 17, 2024.
Fans and analysts who knew of the recent events scrutinized the golfer's performance. Tiger expressed difficulty with his game, affected by the aftershock of the news: "I didn't accomplish a lot because I wasn't in the right frame of mind."
From the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump to its profound emotional impact on Tiger Woods, the incidents of July 13, 2024, intertwine the worlds of sports and politics in a narrative of friendship, tragedy, and resilience.
Woods' struggle with the news and his attempt to stay focused at the British Open underline the broad and unexpected ways global events can influence personal and professional realms.
