PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Marcus Byrd didn’t get mad when Tiger Woods stiffed him for an autograph.
This was back in the days of the Quicken Loans National at Congressional Golf Club and Byrd, who attended the tournament every year as a kid was decked out in his red shirt and black shorts. In one hand, he had a picture of Tiger, his favorite player, that he tried to get signed as Tiger made his way to the first tee. But Tiger had his game face on and didn’t stop to make Byrd’s day.
But rather than get mad, Byrd used it as motivation.
“I told my dad one day when I make it to the Tour, he’ll have to sign my scorecard anyway, don’t really need the signature right now,” he recalled during a press conference ahead of the Genesis Invitational. “That was just kind of a thing to keep pushing me forward to getting to where I am.”
Byrd, 25, was selected by Tiger this year to receive the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption into the event at Riviera Country Club, a PGA Tour event with a $20 million purse. On Tuesday, Byrd met Tiger for the first time.
Very cool see to Langston’s own, Marcus Byrd, with Tiger. All of the NLT community will be rooting him on this week! https://t.co/AbR2H6WZr1
— National Links Trust (@links_national) February 14, 2023
“It was a pretty special moment just to kind of actually shake his hand and like meet him in person,” Byrd said. “Just kind of look at him face-to-face and actually realize he’s human, that was pretty cool.”
Did Byrd mention that time at Congressional when he didn’t get Tiger’s signature?
“No, no, I haven’t brought it up yet, but I’m sure he’ll hear about it,” Byrd said. “I still want to make sure I earn that. Hopefully we can get that to happen this week.”
Awarded annually since 2009, the Sifford exemption represents the advancement of diversity in the game of golf.
“Marcus has shown resiliency and perseverance in pursuit of a professional playing career,” Woods said. “These are qualities that remind me of Charlie and his journey.”
Byrd certainly appreciates the significance of his opportunity to play in one of the Tour’s big-money designated events and make a childhood dream come true, but he’s also aware of the bigger picture.
“It’s about the game being inclusive and about giving kids hope,” he said. “Just to be able to show these kids that you can be just like me in these shoes. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about bringing more people…
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