Cheyenne Woods, Making Her Way Despite Her Famous Uncle...

Being a golfer and sharing the surname Woods has its advantages: a high-profile sponsorship deal, representation from a well-established management company and numerous opportunities to raise your profile outside the sport.

Inevitably, it is a surname that can also bring less desirable consequences.

"Having the name of Woods brings a lot of attention to you," explains 22-year-old Cheyenne Woods, who bears an uncanny resemblance to her famous uncle Tiger.

Even as a rookie, she says: "There is expectation and pressure that comes with the territory of being Tiger Woods's niece. It's something I've grown up with."

With uncle Tiger back to winning ways and reclaiming the world number one spot for the first time in more than two years, the weight of expectation is heavier than ever.

But Cheyenne Woods, who is competing in her first season on the Ladies' European Tour, is determined to carve out a name for herself in her own right.

"When I come out here [on the golf course] I don't think about Tiger Woods or what my name is, I just think about achieving my own goals and playing my own game," she tells BBC Sport.

"I'm just trying to have a successful season, a solid career and not focus on what Tiger's doing and comparing my career to his," she adds.

Cheyenne was just 19 months old when her mother, Susan - married to Tiger's older half-brother Earl Dennison Jnr - pushed her around Riviera Country Club in a buggy while Tiger, then 16, made his PGA Tour debut.

Her enthusiasm for the sport was bolstered further by seeing Tiger playing golf on TV. Her brown eyes gleam as she remembers sitting in her living room as a six-year-old watching Tiger becoming the youngest winner of the Masters in 1997.

"It was definitely an inspiration to see him on TV being successful," recalls Woods. "I'd go into school every day and tell everyone my uncle was on TV. It was exciting for me to see that.

"He didn't have a lot of hands-on coaching with me as I had my own coach, but he was always there to look up and see on TV."

These days Woods says she speaks to her uncle "every once in a while", adding: "He'll keep up with how I'm doing or how I'm playing but we don't talk every day. He's there to give me advice when I need it." Golfer Cheyenne Woods

Woods's late grandfather Earl Dennison Woods Snr - Tiger's father - had a big influence on her career.

Just as he moulded the precocious talents of a teenage Tiger, Woods Snr first put a golf club in her hand when she was only two. He also bought her first set of clubs a few years later.

But with her grandfather and uncle Tiger living in California, and Woods more than 300 miles away in Phoenix, Arizona, she was only able to see him during the summer holidays.

It was enough time for Woods Snr to advise his granddaughter on how to improve the mechanics of her swing or how frequently to practise her putting and the events she should compete in as a junior.

But it was her mother who encouraged and nurtured her talent on a daily basis. "My earliest memory is going to the local park with my mum and hitting golf balls," says Woods, who cites South Korean pro Grace Park as her favourite women's golfer growing up.

"We'd go to the park rather than the driving range because at the time we didn't know that's where you would go to hit balls. We hit back and forth all day. It was really fun."

You get the sense from Woods that when she sets a goal she becomes hell bent on achieving it. She decided as a junior she wanted a career in a sport that, at the time, was not the most welcoming to women.

And then as an amateur she set about accomplishing it - racking up more than 30 amateur tournament wins before graduating from Wake Forest University in North Carolina with the lowest career-scoring average in their history.

Her only pro Tour victory to date came last August in 2012's LPGA (Ladies' Professional Golf Association) International in Florida. Woods's best finish in her five tournaments so far in 2013 was joint 12th at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco.

Not a prolific opening to the season, but Woods is satisfied with her "great start" to her first professional year, as she negotiates competing and travelling the world alone for the first time. Apart from losing her passport ahead of a flight to New Zealand, Woods says she has had a "great experience".

Tiger's life off the course has been scrutinised in much detail in recent years, but Woods says there is no chance of her getting caught up in what she calls the "hoopla of celebrity life" as her family keep her "humble and grounded".

For Woods, it is about more than just golf. Just as her uncle transcended the sport by becoming a successful black golfer in a regimentally white sport, Woods understands her high profile will make her a role model for young girls and black golfers alike.

"There aren't a lot of minorities out here now in the pro leagues and Tours. I think it's important to grow the interest of golf in the minority community," she explains.

There is that look of determination again. It is a sight we are likely to see more of from a young rookie intent on emerging from the shadow of such a famous name.



Cheyenne Woods at a glance

Born: 25 July 1990

Grew up: Phoenix, Arizona

• Graduated from Wake Forest University in North Carolina

• Her dad is Tiger Woods's older half-brother

• First picked up a golf club aged two

• Was guided by her grandfather, Tiger's father, during her junior career

• Won over 30 tournaments as an amateur

• First & only professional win in Aug 2012 at LPGA International



Source: BBC Sport

My Masters Bets

I've made a few bets this year for what is ultimately my favourite tournament of the year.I think all of you will be aware that I am a massive fan of Tiger Woods, so naturally he's my first bet. However, my other bets are a little more obscure... I've gone for Charl Schwartzel each way, Russel Henley each way and Ian Poulter each way. Schwartzel has been in great form since the end of 2012, Henley draws the ball and appears to have a great game for Augusta and Poulter has made a few nice finishes under the radar. Plus you know he'll never give up. Why don't you have a bet on the latest US Masters odds from Paddy Power then let me know what you've gone for. You can tweet me here or just leave a comment below! Really wanting Tiger to do it though, just to silence all the doubters and put him nearer to Nicklaus' target! BUZZZZZZZING!

Dare I Say He's Back?

Tiger Woods is looking in ominous form as he heads into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a 2 shot lead. Woods looked shaky from the start as he struggled off the tee. However, his putting looked back to its imperious best. The former world number one will return to the summit of the world rankings with a win this week. Tiger made an eagle at the par 5 15th to take him to -121 for the par 5s in his time playing in this tournament! He currently has 3 eagles this week which is the first time anyone has had 3 eagles in this event since Phil Mickelson in 2001. If he were to win tomorrow it would make it 3 wins from 4 starts in 2013 with only a couple of weeks until Augusta. COME ON TIGER!

Tiger Woods Wins The Cadillac Championship At Doral

Tiger Woods looked back to his imperious best form as he captured the Cadillac Championship at Doral on Sunday. The win was Woods' second of the year in 4 starts and sends an ominous message to the world of golf. He cuts Mcilroy's lead at the top of the world rankings and answers any questions of his form. However, I think we all know that his year will be judged on whether he can win his 15th major and close in on Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 titles. Only time will tell...

Tired of playing golf alone? Find a golf partner near you for free using Nearest2ThePin

It's an ongoing problem that golfers looking for a golf partner struggle to find one online. The existing websites out there just don't cut it. They either charge a membership fee, are cluttered with ads or are just plain unusable.

That's why I'm really excited to learn about the new website Nearest2ThePin!

Nearest2ThePin is an incredible simple new way to connect with other golfers in your area and arrange a round in moments. The site has been developed by a world class team and already has the backing of some household names in the golfing world.

The website isn't launching publicly until April, but you can sign up to be part of the early private community today at www.nearest2thepin.com.

Here are some key features you can look forward to:

- Connect with other golfers in your area totally FREE.

- The interface is so simple you can find other golfers in seconds not minutes.

- Easily arrange rounds via a straight forward invite & message system.

- No ads, no distractions, just a simple way to find golfers near you.

Remember, you can sign up to be notified of their launch at http://www.nearest2thepin.com.

Who knows, you could be arranging a round of golf with me soon!

Kuchar Seals First World Golf Championship

Matt Kuchar defeated Hunter Mahan 2 and 1 to claim his first World Golf Championship title and the fifth victory of his career. Kuchar lost to Mahan in last years quarter final but the American proved to be too good in this years bout.

The 64-man field had seen lots of big name casualties in the early rounds. Notably: Mcilroy, Woods, Donald, Bradley and Scott. Ian Poulter also managed a stellar performance to finish in 4th place and break back into the world's top 10. Here are highlights from the final days play:




The PGA Tour moves to Florida next week for the first leg of the Florida swing. PGA National will hold the Honda Classic, a tournament which last year saw a final round 62 (-10) from Woods fall just short of Mcilroy. The Northern Irishman claimed the top spot in the world with the win.

When It Finally Got Going, They Didn't Get Going!

The Accenture Matchplay is being held this week at Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona. Day one was called off due to snow (yes, snow!) with only a handful of matches out on the course. Players even engaged in a lighthearted snowball fight in the car park!

Thursday unveiled much more forgiving conditions and all of the first round matches were able to be completed. World number two Tiger Woods, playing in his second event of the year (he won his first) was sent packing by a resilient Charles Howell III. World number one Rory Mcilroy wasn't able to recover from a mid round purple patch by his opposing compatriot Shane Lowry and subsequently was eliminated. Other big names to fall included Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Lee Westwood.

I can't help but think that if Woods and Mcilroy had busier schedules they would be able to perform at a higher level. Mcilroy was playing in only his second event of 2013. He had his purple patch in form last year when he was playing his most. His ball striking is so good that he just needs to sharpen up his technique around the green along with his competitive edge. This can predominantly be done by playing in tournaments. This aside, I do still believe that top major winning players always thrive in tournament golf. Due to the small amount of matchplay tournaments per year it is not high on their agenda. Could be the reason behind Tiger's poor Ryder Cup record. Any thoughts?