Tiger Woods: Will Golf for Wildlife Conservation

Earlier this year, The Tiger Woods Foundation released the below family portrait.

The photo shows, from left to right, Yogi, Sam, Elin, Tiger, Charlie and Taz. Yogi is a labradoodle, the breed that almost made it to the White House. Taz is a Border collie.

Tiger's fame, good looks, name and fondness for pets may have prompted PETA earlier this year to send him the following letter: "We’re writing to you today with an interesting request. As one of the most successful and celebrated golfers in history, we believe that you could use both your influence and your distinctive first name to help bring attention to the suffering of tigers and other wild animals who are abused in circuses. Would you consider having your body painted to resemble a tiger and then sit in a cage to protest the cruel treatment of tigers, elephants, bears, and other wild animals in circuses? Not only are these animals beaten, shocked, and whipped to make them perform tricks that are confusing and meaningless to them, they are also caged or chained for up to 95 percent of their miserable lives.”

This wasn't one of PETA's brighter ideas, in my opinion. But the link between Woods and animal-related charities had already been forged. He has supported charities such as The Rainforest Foundation Fund. This foundation, created by pop star Sting and wife Trudie, works with indigenous residents of rainforest areas, helping them to better manage natural resources and ecosystems while developing local, sustainable development initiatives. Some of the most beautiful wildlife regions on earth— in Belize, Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama and Suriname— have benefited from the charity.

Woods supports several other charities, including his namesake organization, which has awarded nearly $2 million in grants nationwide, mostly for kids' causes. We tend to forget that when generous athletes win, a good percentage of their earnings goes to charity.

Tiger Woods is still in his prime, so I hope he gets his personal act together, leaving Yogi and Taz as the only residents in his family's doghouse.