Tiger Woods has been open about his life in the past, and the golfing great admitted he has just one regret when reflecting on his incredible career and the challenges he has faced

Tiger Woods regrets turning pro when he did (Image: (Image: Getty))

Tiger Woods has opened up about his life’s only regret – and it’s a far cry from what fans might expect.

Despite a glittering 28-year career that saw him become the youngest Masters champion in history and claim 15 major titles, the 48 year old superstar from California wishes he had delayed turning professional. In an intimate chat with CBS Sports, Woods reflected on his decision to leave Stanford University early, saying: “The only regret I have in life is not spending another year at Stanford, and I wish I would’ve had one more year.”

When pressed by the interviewer about whether this was truly his biggest regret, given everything he’s been through on and off the course, Woods confirmed: “All the things and that’s all.” The revelation comes despite the well-publicised personal scandal that rocked his career, where Woods admitted to multiple infidelities during his marriage to Elin Nordegren – leading to the loss of several lucrative sponsorships.

Woods had previously confessed: “I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable,” following the exposure of his private indiscretions.

In his CBS interview, the reporter pressed further by asking: “Everything?” Yet Woods continued: “All the things I’ve been through are tough, yes. They’ve been tough, but they’ve been great for me, but I wish I would’ve gone one more year at Stanford.”

The golf sensation joined the prestigious university in 1994 on a golf scholarship and clinched the William H. Tucker Invitational in September. He picked economics as his major and excelled not only academically over two years, but also on the greens representing Stanford Men’s Golf team.

In his brief yet shining stint at the uni, Woods equalled the record with 11 tournament victories. Reflecting fondly on his days with the Stanford golf squad, Woods said: “I had such a great time playing golf at Stanford. Just all the practicing, playing and qualifying. It was always fun being around each other. What sets Stanford apart is the combination of quality athletics with an unmatched educational experience.

Woods won his first Masters in 1997 ( Image: (Image: Getty))
“Our Provost was Condeleeza Rice. My economics teacher was one of President Clinton’s advisors. You don’t see that at most schools. It was so intellectually stimulating to be challenged all the time. There was no way I could compete against some of those people. They were so smart. One kid had a photographic memory, and another built a computer from scratch.”

He added: “I really enjoyed being stimulated by the students and professors. Some were geniuses and others were Olympic athletes. It’s amazing how well-rounded they are. That’s what’s so cool about it. You must soak up that experience. It was one of the best times in my life.”

Tiger and former wife Elin Nordegren ( Image: WireImage)
Despite leaving Stanford earlier than planned, the decision seems pivotal in his extraordinary success; he now boasts four PGA Championships, five Masters victories, three US Opens, and three Open Championships. With an impressive 82 PGA Tour wins, Woods has dominated the sport like no other, reigning as World No. 1 for an unprecedented 683 weeks in total.

His most recent major triumph, a fifth Masters jacket, came in 2019, where he edged out top competitors by a mere stroke. In the current season, Woods still competes with fervour, attending all four majors and successfully making the cut at the renowned Augusta Masters.