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Tiger Woods

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Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is a professional golfer from the United States. He is widely considered one of the greatest golfers in history. Woods is also one of the most famous athletes in modern times. He is an inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame. His career is defined by record-breaking wins and incredible skill.

TigerWoods1997
TigerWoods1997

Woods' success began with a very early start in the sport. His father, Earl Woods, was an accomplished amateur golfer. Earl introduced Tiger to golf before he was two years old. Tiger was a child prodigy who showed skill at a very young age. By age three, he shot a 48 over nine holes. At age eight, he won the youngest age group at the Junior World Golf Championships. He won those championships six times in total.

Tiger and Earl Woods Fort Bragg 2004
Tiger and Earl Woods Fort Bragg 2004

Tiger's path to professional golf involved many major amateur victories. He became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur champion at age 15. He also became the first person to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles. In 1994, he was the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur. He later attended Stanford University to study economics. He played college golf there for two years. He won the NCAA individual golf championship in 1996.

Tiger Woods - AT&T National tournament 2009
Tiger Woods - AT&T National tournament 2009

Woods turned professional in August 1996 at age 20. He immediately signed major endorsement deals with Nike, Inc. and Titleist. His professional rise was incredibly fast. In April 1997, he won his first major championship at the Masters. He won that tournament by 12 strokes, which was a record-setting performance. By June 1997, he reached the number one spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. This happened less than one year after he turned professional.

TigerWoods1997
TigerWoods1997

During the first decade of the 21st century, Woods dominated the sport. He held the world's top ranking for 264 consecutive weeks from 1999 to 2004. He later held the top ranking for another 281 consecutive weeks. He has won 82 PGA Tour events, tying him with Sam Snead for the all-time record. He has won 15 major championships, which is second only to Jack Nicklaus. He is also one of only six men to complete the career Grand Slam.

Tiger Woods Masters 2006
Tiger Woods Masters 2006

His career has also faced significant personal and physical challenges. Woods took a break from golf between 2009 and 2010 to address marital problems. He also struggled with many physical injuries. He underwent four back surgeries between 2014 and 2017. In February 2021, he was in a single-car collision. This accident caused compound fractures in his right leg and a shattered ankle. He required emergency surgery to treat these injuries.

Tiger Woods 2014
Tiger Woods 2014

Despite these setbacks, Woods has shown great resilience. He won the Tour Championship in 2018, his first victory in five years. In 2019, he won the Masters, his first major in 11 years. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in May 2019. Woods' background is also quite unique. He described his heritage as "Cablinasian." This term combines Caucasian, Black, American Indian, and Asian.

President Trump Presents the Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods (47813420571) (cropped)
President Trump Presents the Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods (47813420571) (cropped)

Woods' impact on golf and culture is immense. He has been named PGA Player of the Year a record 11 times. He led the PGA Tour money list in 10 different seasons. As of June 2025, his net worth was estimated at US$1.3 billion. His life story connects sports, family, and perseverance. He continues to participate in the sport on a limited schedule.

Tiger Woods figure at Madame Tussauds London (12329858684)
Tiger Woods figure at Madame Tussauds London (12329858684)
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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:Tiger and Earl Woods Fort Bragg 2004.jpg
Tiger and Earl Woods Fort Bragg 2004.jpg
File:TigerWoods1997.jpg
TigerWoods1997.jpg
File:TigerWoods2004RyderCup1.jpg
TigerWoods2004RyderCup1.jpg
File:Tiger Woods Masters 2006.jpg
Tiger Woods Masters 2006.jpg
File:Tiger Woods - AT&T National tournament 2009.jpg
Tiger Woods - AT&T National tournament 2009.jpg
File:TigerWoodsOct2011.jpg
TigerWoodsOct2011.jpg
File:Tiger Woods 2014.jpg
Tiger Woods 2014.jpg
File:Tiger Woods 2018 US Open 26.jpg
Tiger Woods 2018 US Open 26.jpg
File:President Trump Presents the Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods (47796274401).jpg
President Trump Presents the Medal of...
File:Tiger Woods figure at Madame Tussauds London (12329858684).jpg
Tiger Woods figure at Madame Tussauds...
File:US Navy 040303-N-5319A-001 Tiger Woods meets Commander Carrier Group Eight (CCG-8) Rear Adm. Denby H. Starling II, on the flag bridge aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).jpg
US Navy 040303-N-5319A-001 Tiger Woods...
File:Woods photo shoot.jpg
Woods photo shoot.jpg

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