Everyone wanted a piece of Tiger Woods when he was at the top of his game. In 1996, he turned professional and went on to win his first two Major Championships, the 1997 Masters Tournament and the 1999 PGA Championship.
Tiger had become a worldwide phenomenon by the turn of the century. Few could get close to Eldrick, the terrifying striped large cat for whom he was named. Especially on the golf course, where he belongs.
At the 1999 Open Championship, one blonde-haired, black-thonged streaker made it look easy when she stripped down to her underwear and approached the 23-year-old budding golf hero while he lined up a birdie putt.
She even kissed him and caused him to miss his putt.
Who is the brave lady in distress here? Yvonne Rob, a 20-year-old exotic dancer at the time, was the woman in question. Her tee shot was unquestionably a hole-in-one.
When Robb stripped down and welcomed Tiger Woods on the 18th green at the British Open at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland, she attracted millions of fans across the world.
Tiger didn’t appear to mind when she leaned in for a kiss.
When Woods began to hear Ian Woosnam laugh, he said he was speaking with him. Then he noticed her feet while leaned over. In July 1999, he told the New York Post about the encounter:
“Luckily, she didn’t have a lot on, because if someone comes out of the stand like that and has a lot of clothing on, you never know what they have in there or what they’re hiding behind their back,” Woods said.
“She gave me a hug and a quick kiss, but I wasn’t worried. I knew she wasn’t hiding anything. She didn’t have a whole lot on, so I guess I assumed it was a pretty benign situation.”
One way to define it is “benign.”
The iconic streaker was already used to swinging clubs, just not the kind Tiger was used to. Yvonne Robb worked as a dancer at Aberdeen’s Private Eyes nightclub. A year later, she reportedly asked him to come see her dance. There’s no information on whether he followed through.
In 2000, she told The Mirror, “It was the best kiss I ever had.” “It was well worth the effort.” Tiger is my absolute favorite.”
Tiger Woods finished the day with a three-shot deficit. He finished the tournament in a tie for seventh place with a score of 10 over par, earning $50,000. He should have probably paid Robb’s fine.
Robb received a 100-pound fine for her streaking antics. That’s less than $200, which isn’t much when you consider that today’s streakers can face considerably greater fines as well as jail time.
“She pleaded not guilty to charges of conducting herself in a disorderly manner, stripping down to her underwear, jumping a barrier fence, running onto the playing surface, grabbing a player, and disturbing the peace,” according to The Herald.
It’s beyond me how she could plead not guilty to stripping down to her underwear despite video evidence and a witness named Tiger Woods.
Robb’s activities seemed to inspire many female streakers in the years after.
During the second round of the 2000 Open Championship at St. Andrews, a British female streaker named Jacqui Salmond bared it all and even grabbed a flag pole at the 18th hole.
Years later, during the final round of the 2013 Presidents Cup at Muirfield Village Golf Club, Kimberly Webster halted play by stripping down and waving an American flag.
Yvonne Rob is now in her forties, and there isn’t much information online about her. A Twitter account with the same name exists in Aberdeen, Scotland, but there’s no way of knowing if it’s the same woman who planted a kiss on Tiger Woods at the 1999 Open Golf Championship.
Tiger Woods went on to win three more major championships in 2000, as well as a total of ten in his career. I’m sure he and his caddie recall the first time a fairway fair lady sped past them.
Read the original article on Fan Buzz.
