ウッズ、コービー氏の死いまだ信じられず「心のどこかで現実じゃないと」

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】米プロバスケットボール（NBA）、ロサンゼルス・レイカーズの伝説的選手コービー・ブライアント氏らが犠牲になったヘリコプターの墜落事故から2週間以上がたつ中、男子ゴルフのタイガー・ウッズ（米国）が、ショックは薄れた一方でいまだに信じられない気持ちでいることを明かした。（写真はタイガー・ウッズ）
　メジャー通算１５勝を誇るウッズは、１３日に開幕するジェネシス・インビテーショナルの会場リヴィエラ・カントリークラブで、「起こったこと、これが現実だということを言葉にするのは難しい」「心のどこかで、これは現実じゃないと思っている自分がいる」と話した。
　４１歳だったブライアント氏は１月２６日、乗っていたヘリコプターが米ロサンゼルス西部のサンタモニカ山脈で墜落し、１３歳の娘ジアナさんら８人と共に命を落とした。
　当時、ファーマーズ・インシュアランス・オープンの最終ラウンドを回っていたウッズは、ホールアウト直後に事故のことを知った。「熱烈なレイカーズファン」として育ったというウッズは、ＮＢＡで２０年間のキャリアを築き、レイカーズで５回のファイナル制覇を飾るなどしたブライアント氏と同じ年にプロの世界へ足を踏み入れた間柄だった。
　ウッズは「ラウンド後に言ったことはよく覚えていない」「みんなと同じようにショックで、なんとか言葉を絞り出しただけだった」と話した。
　「現実の状況として、コービーとジジ（ジアナさん）はもういないが、受け入れるのは難しい」「親しい人たちや家族の皆さんは、ただただ現実を受け入れられないだろう」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/02/13-08:12）

More than two weeks after Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash, Tiger Woods is among those who find the shock may have worn off but disbelief remains.
It's hard to put into words what transpired and the fact that it's a reality, 15-time major golf champion Woods said Tuesday at Riviera Country Club, where he is preparing to tee off Thursday in the Genesis Invitational.
Part of me thinks that it's not real.
The 41-year-old Bryant, a retired NBA legend with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in the January 26 crash in the Santa Monica Mountains west of Los Angeles.
They were on their way to a girls' basketball tournament at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in suburban Thousand Oaks -- not far from Sherwood Country Club, which hosted Woods's Hero World Challenge tournament for years.
Woods learned of Bryant's death just after he completed his final round at Torrey Pines that Sunday. The 15-time major champion, who said he grew up a diehard Lakers fan, noted that he turned pro the same year that Bryant was drafted into the NBA to start a 20-year career that would include five titles with the Lakers.
I don't really know what I said post-round, Woods said Tuesday. I was in shock just like everyone else, trying to put it in words going forward.
The reality of the situation is Kobe and Gigi are not here, but it's hard to accept, Woods continued.
People who are close him and all the families, it's just hard to accept that reality.
Bryant's widow, Vanessa, has announced a public celebration of life for Kobe, Gianna and the other crash victims will be held on February 24 at Staples Center arena.
The date - 2-24-20 - honors the jersey numbers 2 and 24 worn by Gianna and Bryant and the 20 years Bryant was in the NBA.
But even as such plans go forward, Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram on Monday to express her own struggle to come to terms with her family's loss.
My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone, she wrote. I can't process both at the same time. It's like I'm trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me. It feels wrong ... I'm so mad. She had so much life to live.