Tiger Woods celebrates his 50th birthday. We look back at a professional career that will remain nearly unreachable.
Eldrick Tont Woods was born to Kultida Woods, originally from Thailand, and United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Earl Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California. Nicknamed \”Tiger\” by his father in honor of a comrade from the Vietnam War, Woods grew up on the west coast of the United States near Los Angeles with two half-brothers and a half-sister. At six months old, the young Tiger is said to have imitated his father’s golf swings, and shortly before his second birthday, he appeared as a golf prodigy on the Mike Douglas Show, demonstrating swings and putts on television alongside his father and comedian Bob Hope.
Path to College Star and Amateur Champion
Tiger Woods saw his first success at age eight, winning the Junior World Golf Championship in 1984. He followed with more junior amateur titles until 1994, when he won the NCAA title while studying economics at Stanford University, gaining nationwide recognition in the USA.
Woods turned professional in August 1996, signing then-record lucrative endorsement deals such as a $40 million contract with Nike. In his debut season, he won two tournaments and qualified for the Tour Championship. He was named Sports Illustrated’s \”Sportsman of the Year\” and the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year after that season.
His first major victory came at the 1997 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, where he finished 18 under par with a 12-stroke lead, becoming the first Black Masters winner in a sport historically dominated by white players. In June 1997, just 42 weeks after turning pro, Woods became the number one in the world rankings for the first time.
The Tiger Slam: Unprecedented Dominance
Woods’ subsequent successes were unmatched. After winning the PGA Championship in 1999, he achieved the \”Tiger Slam,\” holding all four major titles consecutively in 2000 and 2001. Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Woods dominated the PGA Tour, winning 14 major titles, completing 15 with his 2019 Masters win. He shares the record for most PGA Tour wins at 82 with Sam Snead. Although he played in eight Ryder Cups for the U.S. team, he only experienced victory once in 1999.
Known for his unique combination of raw power, precision, and mental toughness, Woods redefined professional golf with an aggressive yet technically perfect swing. He held the world number one ranking for a total of 683 weeks, including a record 281 consecutive weeks. His signature red shirt on the final day of tournaments became his trademark, symbolizing his competitive spirit as inspired by his mother.
2008 US Open Victory and Career Challenges
In 2008, Woods faced a severe setback, suffering an unnoticed torn ACL, ligament tears, and