Tiger Woods Dishes on What Made Him Leave O.C.

Tiger Woods, an Orange County native who played at Seal Beach's Navy Golf Course as a youth, told a crowd on Tuesday that he moved out of California to escape the state's high taxes.

Speaking Tuesday at the Torrey Pines Golf Club, Woods sympathized with colleague Phil Mickelson, who recently landed in hot water for his critique of the state's newly passed tax law. Woods told the crowd he moved out of California in 1996 because of high taxes.

“Well, I moved out of here back in ‘96 for that reason,” Woods said in response to a question from a reporter in advance of the Farmers Insurance Open. “I enjoy Florida, but also I understand what he was, I think, trying to say. I think he’ll probably explain it better and in a little more detail.”

Woods has bagged more than $100 million in prize money during his career, according to Forbes magazine.

On Wednesday, Mickelson plans to discuss the issue that landed him in hot water, following his pro-am round at Torrey Pines. The San Diego native apologized Monday, saying he regretted airing his opinion.

Mickelson, who lives in Rancho Santa Fe, said he might move out of California to avoid Proposition 30 state income tax increases on people earning more than $250,000 a year. Individuals earning $500,000 or more, or couples filing jointly and declaring income of more than $1 million, will pay 3 percent more than before.

Including federal taxes, Mickelson said “62, 63 percent” of his income was going to the government. He cited financial issues as part of the reason he did not join the Padres’ new ownership group.

The first round of the Farmers Insurance Open is set for Thursday, with Woods and Mickelson leading the field.

Do you think the tax rate is fair? Do you sympathize with people in higher tax brackets who are thinking of moving to greener pastures?

—City News Service