Tiger Woods hopes the 'Black Lives Matter' movement leads to significant changes in society and an end to the loss of innocent lives.
The golfing supremo has kept relatively quiet since the death of African American George Floyd in Minnesota police custody in May.
Speaking before his PGA Tour return, Woods - arguably the world's most recognisable black athlete - says the time for change is now.
"I think change is fantastic," Woods has said before the Memorial in Ohio.
"As long as we make changes without hurting the innocent - and unfortunately that has happened, hopefully it doesn't happen in the future - but a movement and change is fantastic.
"That’s how society develops - that’s how we grow. That’s how we move forward.
"That's how we have fairness. Unfortunately, we’ve lost innocent lives along the way and hopefully we don’t lose any more in the future, as we move to a much better place socially."
The 44-year-old is chasing his record 83rd PGA Tour win this weekend - a victory that would eclipse countryman Sam Snead's 82 set back in 1965.
Woods will make his first competitive outing since February and first in the post-COVID-19 environment without fans, although he and rival Phil Mickelson played a televised fundraiser with NFL stars Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in late May.
He has been injury free for several months, but decided against returning to the golf course when the tour resumed last month.
"I just felt it was better to stay at home and be safe," said the American. "I'm used to playing with lots of people around me and that puts not only myself in danger but my friends and family.
"That's something that I looked at and said, 'I'm really not quite comfortable with that whole idea, let's see how it plays out first'."
And his break away from the sport has the 15-time Major winner eager to get back into the winner's circle and break yet another golfing record.
Woods says there is no reason he can't win on his return.
"I would like to say that I'm going to win the event," says Woods, who has won this tournament a record five times.
"That's my intent coming in, that's my intent going into every event."
Woods, who tied Snead's record by winning the Zozo Championship in Japan last October, adds: "Whether that plays out come Sunday, hopefully that will be the case."
But it will be a different type of final 18 holes if Woods finds himself in contention come Monday (NZ time).
With no spectators, the traditional 'Tiger Roar' will be restricted to fans at home cheering him on from the couch.
Woods has some trepidation about the thought of playing in complete silence.
"To have no-one yelling, no-one screaming, no energy, the social distancing, no handshakes... there's nothing to feed off of energy-wise," he says.
"It's just a silent and different world."
