When Tiger Woods steps into a room, the air shifts and his presence is always known. Fairways, press rooms, prime-time interviews, you name it. He has a way of owning any space he walks into. That being said, there’s something especially charming about watching him outside tournament pressure, where his precision meets playfulness. That’s exactly why an old mid-2000s video still feels fresh today.

A few months back, famous American comedian, TV host, and actress Ellen DeGeneres reshared the clip on her Instagram with a cheeky caption: “You never forget playing golf with the GOAT. That’s why I’m sure @TigerWoods remembers this.”

And with that, fans were instantly drawn back into a studio moment where Tiger traded intensity for laughter and still delivered the kind of flawless execution only he can.

A Lighthearted Challenge on Ellen’s Stage

The segment begins with Ellen leading Tiger toward a miniature setup on her stage. “Alright, let’s go over here and hit some balls,” she says, with that signature mix of confidence and comedy. She lays out the rules as if she, not Tiger Woods, might dominate the challenge: they need to sink three balls combined into a row of blue holes.

“I’ll probably get the majority,” she jokes, earning a grin from Tiger. Ever the gentleman competitor, he offers, “You want to go first?”

Ellen steps up, full focus, full determination, and swings. The ball rolls… but stops short. Tiger steps forward next, takes a smooth stroke, and sends his ball straight into the target. The crowd erupts as if witnessing vintage Sunday-back-nine Tiger. Even in a playful TV bit, the man doesn’t miss.

Then comes round two, and this time, Ellen surprises everyone, including herself. She strikes the ball with more force, and it drops cleanly into the hole. The room explodes. Tiger turns to her, instantly impressed: “How good was that? That was totally cool.” It’s the tone he saves for genuine moments of delight, and Ellen? She’s beaming, still processing what just happened. “I shocked myself,” she admits, laughing as the audience cheers her on.

Tiger steps up again afterward, effortlessly sinking another clean shot, but by then, the charm of the segment is already sealed. The GOAT doesn’t just win tournaments; he makes even a goofy studio challenge unforgettable.

And maybe that’s why the clip still resonates decades later. Tiger Woods isn’t just a champion on the course. He’s a presence that is steady, charismatic, and endlessly entertaining, whether the stakes are a major championship or a blue plastic hole on Ellen’s stage.

What, according to you, makes Tiger’s presence so unforgettable? Even in moments as simple as this? Do share in the comments.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu