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