See more
Tiger Woods started playing golf when he was two years old. This is when his father, Earl Woods started teaching him the basics of the game and from this point, he was destined to become one of the all-time great golfers. Growing up in the spotlight, Tiger Woods was a child prodigy of golf.
When did Tiger Woods become a professional?
After an incredible college career, Tiger Woods turned professional in 1996. Within a year of that, he achieved the number 1 ranking in golf and even signed deals with Nike and Titleist. In 1996, Woods recorded his first-ever PGA Tour victory at the Las Vegas Invitational, paving the way for many more to come. He beat Davis Love III in a close playoff and won a staggering $297,000.
Where was Tiger Woods born?
Tiger Woods was born in California to Earl Woods and Kultida Punsawad. Earl was a military member and an amateur golfer. Tiger’s father was instrumental in developing his love for the game, and he was the one who put a golf club in his hand when he was only two years old.
Why was Tiger Woods a child prodigy?
Tiger Woods was declared a child prodigy due to his early achievements and he was even featured in the Golf Digest magazine. He went on to win the world Junior Championships six times and broke the 80 mark when he was only eight. His father admitted that he first lost to his son when he was 11, after which he never won again.
Who won the 1997 Masters?
Woods then won his first major at the 1997 Masters and became the youngest player in the tournament’s history to do so. In a stunning victory, he won by 12 strokes over runner-up Tom Kite.
Is Tiger Woods a golfer?
Everyone is familiar with the name Tiger Woods. You cannot claim to know golf and not know this great icon who is commonly regarded as the greatest golfer ever. While he has contributed a lot to the sport, he is equally well known to the rest of the world for his accomplishments.
How many years did Tiger Woods play golf?
He was the top-ranked golfer in the world from August 1999 to September 2004 (264 consecutive weeks) and again from June 2005 to October 2010 (281 consecutive weeks). During this time, he won 13 of golf's major championships. The next decade of Woods' career was marked by comebacks from personal problems and injuries.
When did Tiger Woods become a pro?
Following an outstanding junior, college, and amateur golf career, Woods turned professional in 1996 at the age of 20. By the end of April 1997, he won three PGA Tour events in addition to his first major, the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 strokes in a record-breaking performance. He reached number one in the world rankings for the first time in June 1997, less than a year after turning pro. Throughout the first decade of the 21st century, Woods was the dominant force in golf. He was the top-ranked golfer in the world from August 1999 to September 2004 (264 consecutive weeks) and again from June 2005 to October 2010 (281 consecutive weeks). During this time, he won 13 of golf's major championships.
Where is Tont Woods from?
Eldrick Tont Woods was born on December 30, 1975 in Cypress, California to Earl and Kultida "Tida" Woods. He is their only child and has two half-brothers—Earl Jr. and Kevin—and a half-sister—Royce—from his father's first marriage.
How many majors has Tiger Woods won?
He has won 15 professional major golf championships (trailing only Jack Nicklaus, who leads with 18) and 82 PGA Tour events (tied for first all time with Sam Snead ). Woods leads all active golfers in career major wins and career PGA Tour wins.
How many World Golf Championships has Tiger Woods won?
Woods has won 18 World Golf Championships. He was also part of the American winning team for the 1999 Ryder Cup. In May 2019, Woods was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump, the fourth golfer to receive the honor.
What college did Tiger Woods go to?
College golf career. Woods was heavily recruited by college golf powers. He chose Stanford University, the 1994 NCAA champions. He enrolled at Stanford in the fall of 1994 under a golf scholarship and won his first collegiate event, the 40th Annual William H. Tucker Invitational, that September.
What is Tiger Woods' ethnicity?
Tiger has described his ethnic make-up as " Cablinasian " (a syllabic abbreviation he coined from Ca ucasian, Bl ack, American In dian, and Asian ). Woods' first name, Eldrick, was chosen by his mother because it began with "E" (for Earl) and ended with "K" (for Kultida).
When did Tiger Woods play his first tournament?
Amateur title, Woods played his first tournament as a professional in the Greater Milwaukee Open. It was one of only seven events left in 1996 for him to finish among the top 125 money winners and earn a player’s card for the PGA TOUR. He won twice and placed among the top 30 money winners.
How many times did Tiger Woods win PGA Tour?
He won twice and placed among the top 30 money winners. Woods won four PGA TOUR events in 1997, plus one overseas, and was the leading money winner. He achieved No. 1 on the Official World Golf Ranking for the most rapid progression ever to that position.
What was Tiger Woods' average strokes in 2000?
His adjusted scoring average averages in 2000 and 2007 of 67.79 strokes were the lowest ever and earned him the Byron Nelson Award on the PGA TOUR and the Vardon Trophy from the PGA of America. He also had an actual scoring average in 2000 of 68.17, breaking Nelson’s record of 68.33 in 1945.
How many majors has Tiger won?
He has 82 PGA TOUR wins, tied with Sam Snead, holding the record for most wins in history. His majors victories include the five Masters Tournaments, four PGA Championships, three U.S. Open Championships, and three British Open Championships. With his second Masters victory in 2001, Tiger became the first golfer ever to hold all four professional ...
What year was Tiger Woods named Sportsman of the Year?
The founding members of the World Sports Academy, in voting for the Laureus Sports Awards, also selected him as the 1999 and 2000 World Sportsman of the Year. In 2008 Businessweek made Woods No. 1 in The Power 100 for the most influential people in sports. In 2009 he was selected AP Athlete of the Decade.
How many championships did Tiger Woods win?
Woods compiled one of the most impressive amateur records in golf history, winning six USGA national championships before turning professional on August 27, 1996. He concluded his amateur career by winning an unprecedented third consecutive U.S. Amateur title, finishing with a record 18 consecutive match-play victories.
How old is Tiger Woods?
BIOGRAPHY. As a nine year-old, Tiger made a bold commitment to his father, Earl: I’m going to be professionally excellent. Tiger (Eldrick) Woods, born December 30, 1975, is a professional golfer and entrepreneur. Since turning professional in 1996, Tiger has built an unprecedented competitive career. His achievements on the course–106 worldwide ...
When did Tiger Woods return to golf?
Woods made a return to golf in April 2010, but the golfer was not quite at the top of his game. His first competition at the 2010 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, resulted in a fourth place finish.
What year did Tiger Woods win the Masters?
golf titles before turning professional in 1996. He shot to fame after winning the U.S. Masters at Augusta in 1997 — with a record score of 270 — at the age of 21. Woods was the youngest person to earn the title, and the first African American to accomplish this feat.
How many holes did Woods play in the sudden death duel?
The sudden death duel at Torrey Pines in San Diego followed an 18-hole playoff, which saw the two finish at par. In that playoff, Woods led Mediate by three shots after the first 10 holes. Mediate then birdied three of the next five holes and took the lead. But on the final hole, Woods birdied while Mediate shot par, forcing the sudden death playoff.
How many PGA Tour championships did Tiger Woods win in 2003?
In 2003 among Woods's five wins were the Buick Invitational and the Western Open. The next year, Woods won only one official PGA Tour championship. While he may have had some challenges on the course, his personal life was running smoothly. Woods married his longtime girlfriend Elin Nordegren, a Swedish model, in October 2004.
What happened to Woods in 2017?
In late October, he pleaded guilty to a reckless driving charge for the May incident and agreed to enter a program for first-time offenders to avoid a conviction for driving under the influence.
Why was Tiger Woods arrested?
He was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, however, a breath alcohol test showed no signs of alcohol in his system. In a statement, Woods said that he had "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications." He also thanked the police for their professionalism and issued an apology.
Why did Tiger Woods miss the season?
He also revealed he had suffered a double stress fracture in his left tibia two weeks before the U.S. Open tournament, ignoring doctors' advice to take six weeks off to let it heal.
How old was Tiger Woods when he started golfing?
A naturally gifted player, he took up golfing at a very young age and soon became a prodigy, taking swings on a television program when he was two years old and shooting a 48 over nine holes at age three.
When did Tiger Woods win the British Open?
On July 23, 2000, Woods became the fifth player in golf history, and the youngest, to complete the career Grand Slam of the four major championships by winning the British Open.
How many strokes did Tiger Woods win?
Woods’s victory by a comfortable 8 strokes was a record-setting 19 strokes under par. He won back-to-back Masters titles in 2001 and 2002. Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods, 2002. © Jerry Coli/Dreamstime.com. In 2005, after a drought of 10 winless major tournaments, Woods won the Masters and the British Open.
Why did Tiger Woods miss the 2014 PGA Tour?
However, his following year was disastrous, as he missed long stretches of the PGA season because of persistent back pain and played in just nine PGA Tour events in 2014, with his best finish in those tournaments being a tie for 25th place. Woods’s struggles on the course persisted into 2015.
How fast did Tiger Woods hit his drives?
Woods was able to generate such club speed that he routinely hit drives of more than 300 yards. His booming long game, coupled with his expert putting and chipping and his reputation for mental toughness, made him an intimidating opponent and a popular player among fans.
What happened to Tiger Woods in 2021?
It was his 82nd Tour victory, tying Sam Snead ’s record. In January 2021 Woods announced that he had undergone his fifth back surgery and was not expected to return to competition until April at the earliest. In February he was involved in a single-car crash that resulted in serious leg injuries.
When was Tiger Woods born?
Tiger Woods, byname of Eldrick Woods, (born December 30, 1975, Cypress, California, U.S.), American golfer who enjoyed one of the greatest amateur careers in the history of the game and became the dominant player on the professional circuit in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1997 Woods became the first golfer of either African American ...
How many Masters has Tiger Woods won?
More: Tiger Woods’ five Masters victories have spanned more than two decades and coincided with what many consider to be the Golden Age of golf equipment technology. Certainly Woods’ use of the multilayer, solid-core Nike Tour Accuracy TW ball was a paradigm shift for equipment used by tour players and the distances they hit them.
What did Tiger do when he was in his prime?
When Tiger was in his prime he was an amazing putter. When he walks on to the green, Tiger takes in the contour, and the surroundings, then marks his ball.
How many events did Tiger win in 1996?
And let’s be honest - Tiger won 71 events from 1996 to 2009. How do you get better than that? Jack’s major productivity was over a 17 year span and he won 68 of his 73 in that time frame. Tiger’s major productivity was over a 14 year span and he won 71 over that span. He was MORE productive than Jack in total victories over a shorter period of time. There’s no way to come back better than that.
How old is Roger Federer?
His Age - He’s 40 now and all the best players are now nearly half as young as he is and way more healthier. He used to be the only one winning because 15–20 years ago there wasn’t talent like there is now. Every influential athlete has declined because they just can’t keep up. Roger Federer, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and others have undergone the same transition. Let’s not forget all of the injuries that he has suffered the past several years as well.
What year did Tiger Woods win the PGA Championship?
In 1999 Woods achieved the greatest moment in his career when he won the PGA Championship by one shot. He had been in the lead for most of the tournament, but lost his lead on the last day, making his one stroke victory over Sergio Garcia even more memorable for the crowd that had gathered to watch. Woods continued his success in November 1999 when he shot the best total ever in the World Cup, helping to lead the United States to victory in the tournament. He was also named the PGA Tour Player of the Year for the second time on November 30, 1999, earning more that $6.6 million in prize money during the season.
Where was Tiger Woods born?
Childhood in golf. Tiger Woods was born Eldrick Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California. He is the only child of Earl and Kultida Woods. His parents identified their son's talent at an unusually early age. They said that he was playing with a putter before he could walk.
How many Amateur titles did Tiger Woods win?
Although he played as an amateur—not for prize money—Woods's reputation preceded him. By 1996, Woods had won three U.S. Amateur titles, one after another, an amazing accomplishment in itself. Woods was only twenty years old, and in August of 1996, he decided to quit college in order to play professional golf.
What religion did Tiger Woods follow?
His mother was a native of Thailand and passed on to her son the mystical ideals of Buddhism, an eastern religion that seeks to go beyond human suffering and existence. In many ways Woods grew up as a typical middle-class American boy. He developed a taste for junk food and an affection for playing video games.
How old was Tiger Woods when he was on That's Incredible?
Not long after that, when he was five years old, Woods was featured on the popular television show That's Incredible! Tiger's father has never denied that he devoted his energies to developing his son's talent and to furthering the boy's career as a golfer.
What was Tiger Woods' passion for?
The boy was gifted not only with exceptional playing abilities, but he also possessed a passion for the sport. Woods first gained national attention on a talk show when he beat the famed comedian and avid golfer Bob Hope (1903–) in a putting contest.
How many consecutive wins did Ben Hogan have?
It was his fifth consecutive victory and, at the time, golf's longest winning streak in forty-six years. On February 7, 2000, he extended that streak by winning the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He became the first player since Ben Hogan (1912–1997) in 1948 to win six straight tour events.
When did Tiger Woods win the PGA Championship?
Justin Thomas watched Woods win the PGA Championship in 2000, and said it was the reason he decided golf was what he wanted to do with his life.
When did Tiger Woods become a pro?
Influencing the next generation. Tiger Woods turned pro in August 1996 when he was just 20 years old, having completed just two years at Stanford University, where he went on a full golf scholarship in 1994.
How much money did Tiger Woods win at the Masters?
When Tiger Woods won his first major at the Masters in 1997, the entire prize fund was $2.7million, and his winner's share $486,000.
How many shots did Tiger Woods shoot in the 1997 Masters?
When Tiger Woods averaged 25 yards further than any other player off the tee, had wedges in to the par fives and set a scoring record at the 1997 Masters while beating the field by a record 12 shots, Augusta National were worried.
How many years did Tiger Woods go to college?
At the time, it was unusual: most players would complete four years of college or live a little before coming out on Tour, but with a glittering amateur career and huge motivation, Woods decided to leave school early and turn professional, a year younger than Jack Nicklaus did.
How much does Tiger Woods make on the golf course?
Woods' career earnings, on the golf course alone, amount to $118,309,570. "Every golfer on the PGA TOUR owes him a lot because everything we play for is because of him,” Jon Rahm said last year. From the very beginning, the crowds rooted for Tiger and showed up to see him in droves.
What is Tiger Proofing?
And while it may have started at Augusta National, 'Tiger proofing' became a term renowned around the world for making courses more difficult by adding length, growing rough and narrowing fairways. The only problem was that Tiger was still one of the longest hitter out there, so when you made the course difficult for him you made it more difficult for everyone else. It felt counter-intuitive as Woods went on to win 14-major titles, before adding his latest Masters victory in 2019.
How long has Tiger Woods been out of golf?
It is 53 weeks and counting since Tiger Woods last played a competitive round of golf. That is the longest stretch in which the most celebrated golfer in history, still recovering from two back surgeries undergone last fall, has spent away from the sport since before his famous coming-out party as a 2-year-old on the Mike Douglas Show.
How many PGA Tour wins did Tiger Woods have?
Golf is a radically different endeavor, both at the professional and recreational level, because of Woods and his 79 PGA Tour wins, 14 major championships, $110 million in on-course PGA Tour earnings and millions more off.
How many golfers have made a million dollars in 1996?
At the end of 1996, there were just 10 golfers who had broken the $7 million mark in career earning. Today, 218 golfers have earned at least that much in their careers, with 157 players exceeding $10 million in career earnings. Here’s another way to look at the exponential increase in money.
Who won the 1996 PGA Tour?
FRONT RUNNER FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. Having earned his PGA Tour card with a T-9 finish at PGA Tour Qualifying the previous December, Tim Herron needed just six tour starts in 1996 before he claimed his first victory, a four-stroke triumph over Mark McCumber at rain-soaked Honda Classic.
How much did Nike pay for golf clubs?
Golf World reported that the Nike agreement was for an estimated $40 million—$6.5 million per year for five years with a $7.5 million signing bonus—to wear the company’s shoes and apparel. The Titleist arrangement was $3.5 million for three years to play the company’s clubs and balls.
Overview
Professional career
Woods turned professional at age 20 in August 1996 and immediately signed advertising deals with Nike, Inc. and Titleist that ranked as the most lucrative endorsement contracts in golf history at that time. Woods was named Sports Illustrated's 1996 Sportsman of the Year and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. On April 13, 1997, he won his first major, the Masters, in record-breaking fashion a…
Background and family
Eldrick Tont Woods was born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, to Earl and Kultida "Tida" Woods. He is their only child and has two half-brothers and a half-sister from his father's first marriage. Earl was a retired U.S. Army officer and Vietnam War veteran; he was born to African American parents and was also said to have had European, Native American, and possibly Chineseanc…
Early life and amateur golf career
Woods grew up in Orange County, California. He was a child prodigy who was introduced to golf before the age of two by his athletic father Earl Woods. Earl was a single-digit handicap amateur golfer who also was one of the earliest African-American college baseball players at Kansas State University. His father was a member of the military and had playing privileges at the Navy golf course beside the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, which allowed Tiger to play there. …
College golf career
Woods was heavily recruited by college golf powers. He chose Stanford University, the 1994 NCAA champions. He enrolled at Stanford in the fall of 1994 under a golf scholarship and won his first collegiate event, the 40th Annual William H. Tucker Invitational, that September. He selected a major in economics and was nicknamed "Urkel" by college teammate Notah Begay III. In 1995, he successfully defended his U.S. Amateur title at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Islandand wa…
Playing style
When Woods first joined the PGA Tourin 1996, his long drives had a large impact on the world of golf, but he did not upgrade his equipment in the following years. He insisted upon the use of True Temper Dynamic Gold steel-shafted clubs and smaller steel clubheads that promoted accuracy over distance. Many opponents caught up to him, and Phil Mickelson even made a joke in 2003 about Woods u…
Other ventures
The TGR Foundationwas established in 1996 by Woods and his father Earl as the Tiger Woods Foundation with the primary goal of promoting golf among inner-city children. The foundation has conducted junior golf clinics across the country, and sponsors the Tiger Woods Foundation National Junior Golf Team in the Junior World Golf Championships. As of December 2010, TWF employe…
Personal life
In November 2003, Woods became engaged to Elin Nordegren, a Swedish former model and daughter of former minister of migration Barbro Holmberg and radio journalist Thomas Nordegren. They were introduced during The Open Championship in 2001 by Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, who had employed her as an au pair. They married on October 5, 2004, at the Sandy Lane resort in B…
Business
Achievements
- He has 81 PGA TOUR wins, the second-highest total of any player. His majors victories include the four Masters Tournaments, four PGA Championships, three U.S. Open Championships, and three British Open Championships. With his second Masters victory in 2001, Tiger became the first golfer ever to hold all four professional major championships at the same time.
Personal
- Tiger is the son of Earl Woods, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, and his wife, Kultida, a native of Thailand. He was nicknamed Tiger after a Vietnamese soldier and friend of his father, Vuong Dang Phong, to whom his father had also given that nickname.
Early years
- He grew up in Cypress, California. He took an interest in golf at age 6 months, watching as his father hit golf balls into a net and imitating his swing. He appeared on The Mike Douglas Show at age 2, putting with Bob Hope. He shot 48 for nine holes at age 3 and was featured in Golf Digest at age 5.
College career
- Tiger played in his first professional tournament in 1992, at age 16, the Los Angeles Open, and made the 36-hole cut and tied for 34th place in the 1994 Johnnie Walker Asian Classic in Thailand, He entered Stanford University in 1994 and in two years he won 10 collegiate events, concluding with the NCAA title.
Professional career
- Woods compiled one of the most impressive amateur records in golf history, winning six USGA national championships before turning professional on August 27, 1996. He concluded his amateur career by winning an unprecedented third consecutive U.S. Amateur title, finishing with a record 18 consecutive match-play victories. He won a total of 20 times from 2003-06, lead the T…