Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 14, 1995                   TAG: 9506140085
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y.                                 LENGTH: Medium

WOODS OPENS HIS MIND

U.S. Amateur golf champion Tiger Woods, who will be playing in his first U.S. Open this week, issued a statement Tuesday regarding his ethnic origin.

``The various media have portrayed me as an African-American, sometimes Asian,'' Woods said, reading from a statement after his practice round at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. ``In fact, I am both.''

``On my father's side, I am African-American. On my mother's side, I am Thai,'' Woods said ``Truthfully, I feel very fortunate and equally proud to be both African-American and Asian.''

Woods, who at 18 became the youngest U.S. Amateur champion, also said he would finish college before turning pro.

``It's pretty simple,'' said the 19-year-old Stanford University freshman. ``Three more years and I am out.''

Asked to assess where his game ranks right now compared with that of the touring pros, Woods said: ``If I miss-hit an iron shot, I bean the gallery. If they miss-hit, they just miss the green. If I miss a tee shot, I'm in the hay. If they miss, they are in the first cut of rough.''

Woods said his golf has ``slipped a little bit'' because of the academic demands of college, but said, ``I feel like I have grown emotionally and physically in the past year.''

He was the only amateur to make the cut at the Masters this year. During the summer he will play in three consecutive pro events.

He was fifth in the NCAA individual tournament this month, finishing 2-under-par for 72 holes, and missed a putt of about five feet on the last hole that would have given Stanford the team title.

Regarding his race, Woods said: ``That is who I am. Now, with your cooperation, I hope I can just be a golfer and a human being.''