Rainier Beach's Tiger Woods Delves is Hustling His Way to College Golf Dream
With a near-perfect GPA, second-hand clubs, and relentless drive, Tiger Woods Achim Delves is chasing his dream of playing college golf, one job, scooter ride, and night shift at a time.
SEATTLE – Tiger Woods Achim Delves rushes out the front doors and down the stairs of Rainier Beach’s brand-new building. He’s just wrapped up a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the school, and doesn’t want to be late.
Then he realizes he’s still wearing his basketball shoes. He also needs a golf club. So he sprints back inside, changes his shoes, and grabs a Lime scooter to get a club from his car.
As Delves’ senior year winds down, he’s constantly on the move.
With a 3.975 GPA (he would have a 4.0, but his freshman-year homeschool credits didn’t transfer), he’s finishing high school and preparing to start his freshman year at the University of Washington. An aspiring golfer, he spends as much time as he can afford on the course. And because life – especially golf – is expensive, he juggles as many jobs as he can fit into a day.
One of 10 children raised in a two-bedroom home, Delves lives each day with one clear purpose: Financial stability.
“I want to be financially stable and be able to do what I want to do in life and have fun,” Delves said.
While everyone calls him Tiger, his full first name is Tiger Woods. He was named after the golf legend by his father, Aku.
“Since I was a young kid – around 5 – I was going to the golf course and walking with my family, and then I started playing,” he said. “That’s just kind of how I grew up. I took some breaks because of family stuff, but I always loved golfing.”
Delves has embraced the name. At age seven, he started a notebook tracking every one of Woods’ rounds. He color-coded each hole: Green for birdie, yellow for bogey, white for par, orange for double bogey, and blue for eagle.
YouTube has served as his swing coach. He’s never had a formal lesson and plays with clubs scavenged from Goodwill and golf balls found second-hand. One of his clubs, a 58-degree wedge, looks like it’s been dragged across concrete, scratched and gashed along the bottom.
“I wanted to be a golfer growing up, but I never had resources,” he said.
Though his house was small, the yard had a dirt mound that doubled as a putting green.
“That’s what we played on, so my short game got really good,” he said.
Delves was homeschooled as a freshman and didn’t play golf. He skipped his sophomore year too. Then, before his junior season, Rainier Beach Athletic Director George Foster made a pitch:
“Tiger, I need you to play,” Foster said.
Delves made it to districts that year. Then he made history, becoming the first Rainier Beach golfer to qualify for state.
“When I made it to districts, I realized, you know what? This is something I actually want to do,” he said. “I want to go out there, and I want to, hopefully, win state.”
He didn’t win state, but just getting there was an accomplishment – especially without access to regular practice or proper gear.
“The only access I’ve ever had was playing Jefferson late at night so I could get the cheaper rate – or on junior-free days,” he said. “That’s how I grew up playing.”
Still, Delves is aiming high. He’s determined to walk on to the golf team at the University of Washington, where he’ll study business on an academic scholarship.
To pay for course time and upgraded equipment, he works every job he can. He recently wrapped up a stint as team manager for the Seattle Super Hawks (The Basketball League), and also works events at the Seattle Aquarium, T-Mobile Park, Lumen Field, and Climate Pledge Arena. He does security shifts for both Securitas and Ross Dress for Less.
“Growing up, my parents made me feel so happy. I never thought, ‘Oh, I’m poor,’” Delves said. “I always had food. I always had stuff. It’s just now, looking back, I realize I don’t want that for my future family.”
In a class project called Adulting 101, students were asked to find a life resource. Delves turned to his brother, Salatiel.
“He said, ‘Make a plan. Be disciplined. But don’t be afraid to adjust,’” Delves recalled.
That’s exactly how Delves lives: Set a goal, stay disciplined, and pivot as needed to get there.
While doing everything he can on his own, he’s also reached out to his community, launching a GoFundMe to raise money for golf clubs, green fees, and tournament costs. He’s already raised more than $1,000 of his $5,000 goal.
He made it to state with determination, borrowed clubs, and YouTube tutorials. Just imagine what he could do with a professionally fitted set.
Delves is realistic about his golf future. He’s betting on himself as a potential college golfer, but he’s also laser-focused on making the most of his academic opportunity.
“It’s like a perfect connection,” he said. “I’m working hard, I’m going to get my degree in business, and see what I can do.”
Tiger Woods Achim Delves has a goal. He’s determined to make it real. His story is a testament to hard work, grit, and the belief that big dreams can grow from humble beginnings.
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