When people think of Tiger Woods, there are a few things that come to mind immediately. His suspicious string of vehicle accidents (and the accompanying celebrity privilege surrounding them) might be a conversation starter. Or maybe onlookers think back on his divorce and the mistress who was later dragged on 'Wendy.'
But one thing that Tiger Woods' fans and critics probably don't think of is whether golf runs in the family. As it turns out, it totally does -- and Tiger's niece is a pro golfer, too.
Cheyenne Woods may have made a conscious effort to separate herself from her uncle's branding. But she clearly has talent, and that's something she can't hide.
Who Is Cheyenne Woods?
Cheyenne Woods is the daughter of Tiger Woods' half-brother. Cheyenne's dad, Earl Dennison Woods Jr., and Tiger (real name Eldrick Tont Woods) have the same dad. Obviously, Cheyenne grew up around golf, though she has admitted it took her some time to really fall in love with (and understand) the game.
She's 30 years old now, but when she was eight, Cheynne has explained, she thought that the 'highest score' was the way to win in golf. She's come a long way since then!
Woods only reached the heights of her career, however, because of her first foray into golf under her grandfather's guidance.
Earl Woods Senior Inspired Cheynne To Golf
When she was just a preschooler, says Cheyenne, her grandfather inspired her to golf, telling her that he knew she'd go pro. Though her grandfather passed away in 2006, that didn't stop Cheyenne from pursuing her dreams.
Calling her grandpa a "big teddy bear," Cheyenne elaborated that he once told the tot shed be on the LPGA tour. Six years after she noted the goal in an interview, she achieved it. But that's not all Cheyenne hopes to accomplish.
The Younger Woods Hopes To Inspire Others
Cheyenne Woods has turned heads because of her talent, and yes, her celebrity connections. But she's also earned a following for another reason. The younger Woods says that her background helps her be "a role model for black people."
Woods' mom is white, while her dad is black with Asian and Native American roots. There's no doubt she's making waves in many ways, especially as a woman of color on the green; Cheyenne is the sixth African-American woman to ever play in the LPGA Tour.
Although some headlines are still describing Woods as "niece of Tiger Woods and girlfriend of Yankees' Aaron Hicks," she can clearly stand on her own merit. Though dating a baseball player is cool, it's even cooler that Cheyenne is paving the way on her own -- without her uncle's (or anyone else's) connections.