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Tiger Woods' half-brothers say they never hear from him
A half-brother of Tiger Woods who is in failing health and who may lose his house says he lost touch with his famous relative long ago.
Kevin Woods, his brother Earl Jr. and sister Royce told ESPN.com's Rick Reilly they haven't heard from Woods since six years ago, when they buried the ashes of their father, Earl Sr.
The three are the children of Earl Sr. and Barbara Gary, of Kansas, and are 17-20 years older that Tiger, who is from Earl Sr.'s second marriage, to Kultida Punsawad.
Kevin, Reilly reports, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, and is in need of a caregiver at his San Jose home.
Reilly's column, timed to Masters week, does not paint a flattering picture of Tiger's family ties, or lack thereof. He says Tiger saw his half-siblings often as a child, but started to lose touch when he was about 16.
"I leave updates on Kevin, but for whatever reason I don't get a response," Earl Jr. tells Reilly. "Kevin loves Tiger. A call from Tiger would really pump Kevin up. When he doesn't call, it just makes him feel worse."
Adds Earl Jr.: "We haven't asked Tiger for a dime . . . Not even tickets to a tournament. But Kevin's losing his home. He needs a caregiver and he can't have a caregiver and keep his home at the same time."
The half-siblings said they didn't know why there was a falling out, and a spokesman for Tiger told Reilly that Woods wouldn't be commenting.
In fairness to Woods, it should be pointed out that he has been closer to Earl Jr.'s daughter, Cheyenne Woods, the Wake Forest golfer who won the ACC women's championship last year.
"We talk a little bit here and there," Cheyenne told USA TODAY after that victory. "He's busy. I'm busy. We have our two separate lives."
Source: USA Today
Kevin Woods, his brother Earl Jr. and sister Royce told ESPN.com's Rick Reilly they haven't heard from Woods since six years ago, when they buried the ashes of their father, Earl Sr.
The three are the children of Earl Sr. and Barbara Gary, of Kansas, and are 17-20 years older that Tiger, who is from Earl Sr.'s second marriage, to Kultida Punsawad.
Kevin, Reilly reports, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, and is in need of a caregiver at his San Jose home.
Reilly's column, timed to Masters week, does not paint a flattering picture of Tiger's family ties, or lack thereof. He says Tiger saw his half-siblings often as a child, but started to lose touch when he was about 16.
"I leave updates on Kevin, but for whatever reason I don't get a response," Earl Jr. tells Reilly. "Kevin loves Tiger. A call from Tiger would really pump Kevin up. When he doesn't call, it just makes him feel worse."
Adds Earl Jr.: "We haven't asked Tiger for a dime . . . Not even tickets to a tournament. But Kevin's losing his home. He needs a caregiver and he can't have a caregiver and keep his home at the same time."
The half-siblings said they didn't know why there was a falling out, and a spokesman for Tiger told Reilly that Woods wouldn't be commenting.
In fairness to Woods, it should be pointed out that he has been closer to Earl Jr.'s daughter, Cheyenne Woods, the Wake Forest golfer who won the ACC women's championship last year.
"We talk a little bit here and there," Cheyenne told USA TODAY after that victory. "He's busy. I'm busy. We have our two separate lives."
Source: USA Today