Boy, 12, Out-Drives Tiger Woods
Categories: In The News, Weird But True, Amazing Kids, Sports
It doesn't matter if you're the fastest gun or the greatest brain surgeon. Someday, some kid is going to come along and show you up.
That day came for golf legend Tiger Woods on Oct. 4. He was out-driven by a 12-year-old kid.
A video from NBC Philadelphia tells the tale. Woods was in North Carolina to open a new golf course and hit a few tee-shots down the fairway. Two of them landed in the trees. Then he asked if anyone in the crowd thought they could do better.
Mark Benevento Jr. of New Jersey stepped forward. The pre-teen shot the ball 200 yards, right down the middle. Woods was stunned. "Do that again," he said. "We've got to see that again."
So the lad did it again.
"I was surprised because I thought I was going to top it or something," the middle schooler told the NBC affiliate. "[Woods] was clapping. He was really surprised that I could actually hit it."
More than surprised, he was duly impressed. "Well done, bud. Well done," he told Mark. "I'm proud of you."
Mark's father, Mark Benevento Sr., owns the Great Bay Country Club in Somers Point, N.J. He told NBC his son usually shoots in the high 70s. The father and son traveled to North Carolina to hear Woods speak at the first-ever Tiger Woods-designed golf course, still under development at The Cliffs at High Carolina.
"He [Woods] called me from a crowd of, like, 100 people," Mark told NBC. "I wasn't really nervous, but I got nervous when I stepped up."
You couldn't tell from his performance.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
duffhessian1776 10-22-2009 @ 2:18PM
woods remains one of the VERY few class-acts in sports
Reply
laughsalot 10-22-2009 @ 2:47PM
Yes, Tiger is definitely a class act. However, this was a set up....did anyone notice the microphone clipped to the boy's back??
Rob 10-22-2009 @ 5:12PM
In response to "laughsalot - However, this was a set up....did anyone notice the microphone clipped to the boy's back??"
the 'microphone' on his back was when he was dressed in a light blue jacket. That's when he was being interviewed by the news team. When he's in the crowd and takes the swing(s), he wearing a dark blue shirt, no jacket, no microphone.
I doubt this was a setup!
Vicki 10-22-2009 @ 7:16PM
I agree!
Lew 10-22-2009 @ 7:29PM
That's a pretty good drive for a very small boy. He's not only 12, but a small 12-year-old at that. He has a nice swing, though, and it's never easy when you're shaking in your boots in front of a crowd.
Marcus 10-22-2009 @ 2:24PM
Wow, and Nike didn't try to confiscate the tape!?
Reply
Bill 10-25-2009 @ 1:45PM
200 yards down the middle is not 300 yards which is about what Tiger does. Its nice to compliment a 12 year old boy but 200 meters is not really a long drive even if it is down the middle.
Brad 10-22-2009 @ 2:25PM
Misleading headline. 200 yards is nothing for Tiger. He can hit the ball over 300.
Reply
Rays4u 10-22-2009 @ 5:58PM
Tiger said d0 better than him not out drive him. refeering to how Tiger put two shots in the trees
Lew 10-22-2009 @ 7:32PM
Yes, journalists are using misleading headlines more and more today.
It speaks volumes about Woods' driving, though, that he couldn't put a ceremonial drive in play. He's not a very accurate driver, relatively speaking.
tellatell 10-22-2009 @ 8:54PM
True, Tiger was in teacher mode, not competitor, and of course the sensationalizing media would have us believe a kid beat Tiger. Yeah right.
Neal Watt 10-26-2009 @ 12:01AM
I would rather have the kid on my team. What good does it do to hit the ball 300 yards when it lands 100 yards out in the rough?
Bob Mohilowski 10-22-2009 @ 2:44PM
Brad, you're a dilweed.
Reply
tricia gates 10-22-2009 @ 3:39PM
Actually Brad's right.
Chandler 10-22-2009 @ 5:02PM
I'm 14, and I can drive the ball 260. You know Tiger can drive farther than that.
James Arngton 10-22-2009 @ 6:05PM
T doesn't matter Tricia that wa not the point Brad is still a douche belittling the kids ahievementIt was hit the ball further and better then Tiger did on those shots!! You zealots are disgusting and aways have something negative to say about others that don't Worship at the Tiger Altar too.
thesidk 10-22-2009 @ 2:45PM
It doesn't matter if you're the fastest gun or the greatest brain surgeon. Someday, some kid is going to come along and show you up.
OH HOW TRUE!!
Reply
Rose 10-22-2009 @ 3:05PM
Glad someone outdid cocky Tiger Woods....Tiger Woods prob pretended to be impressed but bet when he left the course he was cursing.
Reply
OU812? 10-22-2009 @ 2:58PM
Ya he left cursing, all the way to the bank with his endorsements and Sh*t load of championships..The man should go down as the Greatest golfer of all time when he is finished...Im sure he's cursing..And WE are all LAUGHING at your stupidity..Try giving some credit where its due..Tip of the hat to Tiger and Tip of the hat to the young man....Cursing?? Sounds more and more like something YOU would do...Next!
Joe Olivarez 10-22-2009 @ 5:51PM
I'm 73 Years of age and I bet I can ourdrive you...Hope you don't leave the driving range or golf course yapping when I do that.