Tiger Woods writes letter of support to fellow stutterer

A boy who was bullied for stuttering received strong encouragement from someone else who once struggled with his speech – Tiger Woods.

Golf Digest published the letter from Woods on its website on Tuesday.

“I know what it’s like to be different and to sometimes not fit in,” Woods wrote. “I also stuttered as a child and I would talk to my dog and he would sit there and listen until he fell asleep. I also took a class for two years to help me, and I finally learned to stop.”

The plight of the high school boy, identified only as Dillon, was publicized when his mother reached out to eight-time Solheim Cup player Sophie Gustafson of Sweden, who played her entire career on the LPGA and in Europe with a severe stuttering problem. Dillon had attempted to take his own life due to the bullying but told Golf Digest Woods’s letter had been a huge comfort.

“On Saturday, I got a letter from Tiger,” he wrote. “He told me that he used to stutter too. We are going to frame the letter. We have never seen a golf tournament in person, only on TV. I told my mom that when my leg gets better [Dillon fractured his leg when he attempted to take his own life]. I think that would be a fun thing to do.”