Tiger Woods
Biography
Prodigiously gifted even from the age of 3, Tiger Woods became the youngest ever US Junior Champion at the age of 15. When he turned professional in 1996 he immediately started winning tournaments. The following year he became the youngest player to win the Masters and the first of African or Asian descent. He quickly rose to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking and in the 2000 season became only the second player ever to win three Majors in a single season. When he won the Masters the following year, he completed a “grand slam”, holding all four majors at the same time.
Woods has broken countless records, one of which was to retain his world No. 1 ranking for 264 consecutive weeks between 1999-2004. By September 2007, Woods had 61 Tour victories and 13 Majors under his belt, with career earnings of over $75 million. His additional earnings from endorsements and sponsorship have made him one of the wealthiest sportsmen of all time.
Motivated by his father to become a great player and have an impact on race relations, Woods launched the Tiger Woods Foundation, aimed at inspiring young people to fulfill their dreams. The Tiger Woods Learning Center in Southern California gives young people an opportunity to develop their interests and talents and to take charge of their own education.
Career Highlights
| 1991 | Became youngest ever U.S. Junior Amateur Champion |
| 1994 | Became the youngest ever U.S. Amateur Champion |
| 1996 | Turned professional, signing endorsement deals worth over $60m |
| 1997 | Won the Masters by a record 12 strokes |
| 1999 | Won the PGA Championship and had six consecutive Tour wins |
| 2000 | Won the U.S. Open, PGA championship and also the British Open (by 8 strokes) |
| 2001 | Won the Masters, holding all four Majors at the same time |
| 2002 | Won the U.S. Open for the second time |
| 2005 | Won the British Open after making changes to his swing |
| 2006 | Won the open again and the PGA Championship |
| 2007 | Won the PGA Championship |
Links
The Tiger Woods Foundation empowers young people to reach their highest potential by initiating and supporting community-based programs that promote health, education and welfare of all children in America.
