Toddler’s Golf Swing a Match for Tiger’s

A New Zealand toddler has just placed third in an international competition for junior golf swings. William Tye, who modelled his golf swing on Tiger Woods after watching a video of the famous athlete, was judged third in the world for under-three-year-olds by a panel of golf legends, including New Zealander Frank Nobilo.

The annual Best Pee Wee Golf Swing in the World is run by US Junior golf development association Little Linksters and is determined after the judges view video footage posted on the Little Linksters site.

Tye, who turned three last week, was filmed by his dad, Stephen, drilling 90m drives down the fairway at the Taupo Gulf Club.

Although the site has yet to post its final results online, Tye’s mum and dad told the Dominion Post about the exceptional result achieved by their toddler.

“When he was about 20 months, I bought him some plastic clubs from The Warehouse,” explains his father. “Next minute he was sinking 10-foot putts and striking the ball, so I thought I’d better get him some decent ones.”

Dom-Post reporter Toby Robson was impressed when he checked out the kid’s form: “It would be easy to dismiss the Tyes as proud parents but William’s swing has to be seen to be believed. The toddler has incredible tempo, technique and rhythm for a boy who has only just begun to talk.

“Big one,” is a regular comment as his ball sails up to 90m in a dead straight line off the face of his Little Mate driver.

His mum Suzanne says William has an “almost photographic” ability to memorise things, particularly maps and diagrams and he developed his swing after watching a video of Tiger Woods.

First prize was taken by Texas toddler Ben Woolley.