| Tiger Woods has practically become a | | | | best on the PGA Tour. At age 24, Tiger became |
| household name. Winner of many professional | | | | the second pro golfer (along with Ben Hogan) |
| major golf championships, awarded the | | | | to win three professional majors in one |
| celebrated title of "PGA Player of the Year" | | | | season. He also set the record for lowest |
| nine times, and has more career major wins | | | | score to par (−19) in any major |
| and career PGA Tour wins than any other | | | | tournament. Tiger was the youngest golfer to |
| professional golfer, there isn't any other | | | | achieve the Career Grand Slam and won his |
| athlete with as much prestige as this young | | | | third straight start on Tour at the Bell |
| competitor. It's safe to say that Eldrick | | | | Canadian Open, which made him the second man |
| "Tiger" Woods may have one of the best jobs | | | | to win the Triple Crown of Golf in one |
| in golf. Born in Cypress, California, Tiger | | | | season. He was ranked12th best golfer of all |
| is the only child to parents Earl, a retired | | | | time by Golf Digest magazine In 2001, Tiger |
| U.S. army lieutenant and Kultida, a woman of | | | | won the Masters and became the first golfer |
| Thai descent. Nicknamed "Tiger" at an early | | | | in history to hold all four professional |
| age, Tiger's parents knew early on that their | | | | majors at the same time. But, in 2003 and |
| son was born for greatness as they watched a | | | | 2004, Tiger hit a bit of a slump. Many |
| baby Tiger mimic his father's golf swings in | | | | attributed this curious occurrence to |
| his crib. As Tiger grew up in Orange County, | | | | disagreements with his swing coach, Butch |
| he was considered a golf prodigy by age two. | | | | Harmon, while others blamed it on his |
| He appeared on the "Mike Douglas Show" and | | | | marriage. However, at the time, Tiger was |
| putted with fellow golfer and comedian, Bob | | | | working on changing his swing so he could put |
| Hope. At five years old, while other kids | | | | less pressure on his surgically repaired left |
| were watching TV and learning their alphabet, | | | | knee. Whatever the reason, Tiger jumped back |
| Tiger was featured in Golf Digest. When Tiger | | | | into the swing of things in 2005 with a |
| was young, he didn't have time to hold any | | | | string of outstanding wins. Tiger won the |
| simple jobs, such as caddy or salesman. | | | | Buick Invitational, the Ford Championship at |
| Winning tournament after tournament during | | | | Doral, the 2005 Masters, regaining his |
| the ages of 8 through 15, Tiger went straight | | | | number-one spot in the World Rankings, the |
| to the big time. And while a student at | | | | 2005 Open Championship, six money events on |
| Stanford University, he won 10 collegiate | | | | the PGA Tour and two wins at the World Golf |
| events and held the NCAA title, too. Tiger | | | | Championships. In the past, golf was |
| was an amateur golfer during 1995 and 1996. | | | | considered an elitist sport, played by mostly |
| Named Sports Illustrated's 1996 Sportsman of | | | | lawyers and doctors on their vacations and |
| the Year, Tiger received even more notoriety. | | | | lunch breaks. However, Tiger Woods has |
| Then, in late summer of 1996, this golf | | | | brought this sport to the masses. With his |
| phenomenon finally turned pro. He played | | | | charming smile and laid back persona, Tiger |
| seven PGA Tour tournaments and won twice. In | | | | Woods has become arguably the most beloved |
| 1997, he won the Masters for his first major. | | | | golfer in history holding the most coveted |
| And in 1999, Tiger held the title of Player | | | | jobs in golf. |
| of the Year until 2004, when Vijay Singh | | | | |
| earned the coveted award. Tiger sure knew how | | | | Andy West is a freelance writer for SDGA. San |
| to bring in the millennium with a bang, as | | | | Diego Golf Academy is a premier golf school |
| many consider Tiger's 2000 season to be the | | | | with locations across the United States. |