For most of her life, Sam Alexis Woods has been known as Tiger Woods’ daughter. But on March 1, she proved she’s much more than just a famous last name. While her dad and younger brother, Charlie, have been making headlines on the golf course, Sam has been busy carving out her own path. And what a way to go out. As captain of The Benjamin School Buccaneers, she led her team to a stunning victory, clinching the FHSAA Class 2A girls’ soccer state title.
Right by her side through it all was her best friend and goalkeeper, Emily Simon. “We’ve grown up together. We’ve done soccer camps since we were like 7 years old. Sleepovers nonstop,” Simson said, her voice filled with nostalgia. “I don’t even consider her one of my best friends. I consider her my family now. I really love her so much. She means the entire world to me.”
Cue the emotions. Woods turned to her best friend, smiling through the weight of the moment. “We’ve been friends since forever and I can’t imagine a better end for not only our season but our soccer career,” she said. “To go all the way, to end on a win, to end having a ring and having a gold medal is absolutely the best way to go out. We’ve had such amazing chemistry with this team. I can’t ask for a better team to have played my final games with.”
Dec 16, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Tiger Woods reacts with his daughter Sam Woods (left) after missing a putt on the fifth green during the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
It was a victory no one saw coming. The Buccaneers lost their top three scorers before the season even began and barely scraped by with four wins in the regular season. Making it to the finals? Let alone winning it all? Unbelievable.
“I’m just really happy that we got this far,” Woods admitted. “We didn’t really expect it…” “…Not at all,” Simon added with a laugh. “But we came here and did it,” Woods finished.
If there was one thing that kept them going, it was their heart and determination.“We definitely treated every game like it was our last,” Woods said. “We played our hearts out. We left everything on the field every single time.”
And now, after years of dedication to the sport, it’s time to say goodbye. “This sport has brought us so close together,” Simon said. “And I know we’re going to stay this way for the rest of our lives.” But while her soccer journey has ended, a new chapter is just beginning.
What’s next for Sam Woods?
During the 2024 PNC Championship, broadcaster Dan Hicks casually dropped a major update: “Tiger Woods’ daughter Sam, who is caddying for him this week, will be attending Stanford University next year.”
While Sam has kept her future plans quiet, her dad recently confirmed the news. Following a tough TGL match loss against Atlanta Drive GC, Tiger Woods was asked about his daughter’s big win and what it meant to him. “Well, the core group of girls that were on that team have been together since they were sick, so they’ve played traveled and they’ve played for Benjamin,” he shared. “To be able to end her high school career like that and to go on as a state champion is pretty cool.”
And yes, Stanford is officially happening. “She’s going to Stanford in the fall, so everything is really trending,” he said, and he also mentioned that she “did like the campus.” As for what she’ll be studying? She’s leaning toward a degree in the sciences—either biology or psychology—while Simon is still deciding on her next steps.
Soccer may be behind her, but Sam Woods is just getting started.
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