The Life and Times of Tiger Woods

When Tiger Woods putted against Bob Hope on the Mike Douglas Show in 1978, the world should have known that probably the best golfer to play the game was being introduced. At the age of three, he had already shot a 48 over nine holes at the Navy Golf Club. At the age of 15, Tiger Woods became the youngest ever US Junior Amateur champion. He went on to win the championship three years in succession.

Born Eldrick Tont Woods in 1975, Tiger Woods has over the years dominated the golfing championships like no other modern day golfer. His amateur career starting from an early age was without any sort of competition. After having won nearly all possible accolades that an amateur golfer can earn, Woods left Stanford College after just two years to turn professional probably looking for bigger competition.

In August 1996, Tiger Woods was introduced to professional golfing with a $40 million Nike endorsement contract. He placed 60th in his first golf tournament but won two events in the next three months to qualify for the Tour Championship. In April of the next year, Woods became the youngest Masters winner. It was in 1997, that he also won three more PGA tour events and in only his 42nd week as a professional became the world number one golfer. He was named the PGA player of the year.

The period between 1999 and 2002 was probably one of the greatest periods of dominance in men’s golf. His winning streak during this period is one without compare and is nearly impossible to comprehend in the present day golf game. At the age of 24, he became the youngest golfer to achieve a career grand slam. He was also ranked as the twelfth best golf player of all time just four years after turning professional. He also achieved the “Tiger Slam” by holding all the four major titles at the same time. Although he never achieved a true Grand Slam, he ended the period with Player of the year honours for the fourth year in a row. Few think that this period will be matched in the modern era of golf.

Woods game is not all a bed of roses. In the 2003-2004 seasons he went through his first slump if you call being second in the PGA money list a slump. However, between 2005 and 2007 he regained his golfing dominance winning the British Open and the PGA championships in 2006 in dominating fashion.

Tiger Woods has also suffered personal strife during his record breaking career. His father and mentor passed away on May 3rd, 2006 probably the reason he missed his first cut in the 2006 US Open. His Ryder Cup performance has also been described as being poor in comparison to his achievements. His dominance at one time led golf commentators to say that his presence would kill the game of golf. His dominance even led to the addition of extra yardage in some PGA courses like Augusta National in order to slow down his dominance.

The 2008 season started with another great performance giving him his 62nd PGA Tour victory tying him with Arnold Palmer for fourth in the all time list. His US Open win in 2008, showed how tough a competitor he is after winning it against all odds with a torn ligament, and double stress fracture in his left tibia. The world was left to wonder who would ever be able to compete with him if he could still win golf tournaments with broken legs.

Watching Tiger Woods play golf is a wonder to behold. His long drives have greatly changed how golf is played and his endorsements have been record breaking in any sport. He has increased the visibility of golf to even minority groups who were otherwise not interested in the game. Since his entry to the golf professional ranks, the game of golf has attracted thousands more fans and players, all eager to play golf just like Tiger.

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