Tiger Woods

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Tiger and Earl Woods Fort Bragg 2004

TigerWoods1997

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Tiger Woods Masters 2006

Tiger Woods - AT&T National tournament 2009

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Tiger Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer who is among the most successful golfers of all time. He has won numerous championships and has held various golf records during his career. Woods is considered one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports.

Early Life

Woods was born Eldrick Tont Woods in Cypress, California, to Earl and Kultida Woods. He was introduced to golf before the age of two by his athletic father, Earl Woods, a retired lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran who was very active in Tiger's early golf education. Tiger showed an early talent for the sport, winning his first junior world championship at the age of eight.

Career

Woods turned professional in 1996 at the age of 20. By the end of April 1997, he had already won three PGA Tour events in addition to his first major, the 1997 Masters Tournament, which he won by a record margin of 12 strokes. He reached the number one position in the world rankings for the first time in June 1997, less than a year after turning pro. Throughout his career, Woods has broken numerous golf records. He has been awarded the PGA Player of the Year a record eleven times and has won the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times.

Woods has won 15 major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus who has 18. These include five Masters Tournaments, four PGA Championships, three U.S. Open Championships, and three Open Championships. With his second Masters victory in 2001, Woods became the first golfer to hold all four professional major championships at the same time, known as the "Tiger Slam."

Personal Life

Woods' personal life has been the subject of extensive media attention. In 2009, he was involved in a scandal that significantly impacted his career and sponsorship deals. He took a break from professional golf and returned in 2010. Despite the setbacks, Woods has made a successful golfing comeback, including winning the Masters in 2019, his first major championship win in eleven years.

Legacy

Woods' impact on golf and sports in general cannot be overstated. He has significantly increased the popularity of golf worldwide and has brought a diverse audience to the sport. His achievements have earned him numerous awards and honors, including being named "Sports Illustrated" Sportsman of the Year twice and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.

See Also

• Golf
• PGA Tour
• Masters Tournament
• U.S. Open (golf)
• The Open Championship