Jackson Reid
Tiger Woods is an American professional golfer who dominated the sport in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history. Woods turned professional in 1996 at the age of 20 and has since built an unprecedented competitive career. His achievements include 106 worldwide wins and 15 majors. Woods has also had success off the course, serving as the founder and CEO of TGR, a multibrand enterprise that includes his philanthropic endeavours. In addition to his athletic prowess, Woods has had a significant impact on the golf world, with courses in the PGA Tour rotation adding yardage to their tees in an effort to reduce the advantage of long hitters like himself—a strategy that became known as Tiger-proofing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amateur career | Won six USGA national championships before turning professional |
| First professional tournament | Los Angeles Open, 1992 |
| First professional golf event | Greater Milwaukee Open, 1996 |
| First major | 1997 Masters |
| Ranking | Reached number one in the Official World Golf Ranking in June 1997 |
| PGA Tour wins | 82 (tied with Sam Snead for the record for most wins in history) |
| Majors victories | Five Masters Tournaments, four PGA Championships, three U.S. Open Championships, and three British Open Championships |
| Awards | Named ESPY Male Athlete of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001; Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1996 and 2000; Golf Writers Association of America Player of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000-2003, 2005-2007, 2009; PGA Player of the Year in 2003; PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2000-2003, 2005-2007, 2009 |
| Golf watch | Collaborated with TAG Heuer to develop the world's first professional golf watch, released in April 2005 |
| "Tiger-proofing" | Courses in the PGA Tour rotation added yardage to their tees to reduce the advantage of long hitters like Woods |
| "Tiger Slam" | Became the only player to win four consecutive major professional golf titles (not in the same calendar year) |
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Tiger Woods broke racial barriers in golf
Tiger Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history. Woods turned professional in 1996 at the age of 20, and by the end of April 1997, he had won three PGA Tour events in addition to his first major, the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 strokes in a record-breaking performance. Woods has been a reluctant hero for Black America, becoming a symbol of racial progress in golf.
Woods has acknowledged the Black pioneers who paved the way for him to compete on the PGA Tour. Shortly after his 1997 Masters win, he appeared in a Nike commercial with Lee Elder and Charlie Sifford, who had become the first Black members of the PGA Tour in 1975. Woods has always been highly guarded about matters of politics or race, but in his 2017 memoir, he wrote, "My biggest hope [...] was we could one day see one another as people and people alone. I wanted us to be color blind. Twenty years later, that has yet to happen."
Woods has also referenced the struggles he faced due to his race. In his book, he talks about the rocks thrown at his family home in southern California, the discrimination he faced in golf clubs, and his disappointment when he first entered Augusta National as an amateur in 1995, a club that had excluded Black golfers for so long. Woods has faced many challenges as a young, talented Black golfer, including hate speech and adversity from fans, but he persevered and proved to be one of the best golfers in the world.
Woods' impact on the sports side of racism has been significant, sending a message that racism cannot stop people from achieving success and breaking down barriers. Woods' success in golf, despite the obstacles he faced, has inspired other athletes of colour to pursue their dreams and break down racial barriers in their respective sports. Woods' achievements have shown that racism and discrimination cannot hinder success, and he has paved the way for increased diversity and inclusion in golf and other sports.
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He holds numerous golf records
Tiger Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is tied for first in PGA Tour wins. He holds numerous golf records, including:
The "Tiger Slam"
In 2000, Woods won six consecutive events on the PGA Tour, including the U.S. Open, where he broke or tied nine tournament records. Sports Illustrated hailed his performance as "the greatest in golf history". At the end of 2000, Woods had won nine of the twenty PGA Tour events he entered and broke the record for the lowest scoring average in tour history.
Woods became the only player to win four consecutive major professional golf titles in the 2000-2001 seasons, an achievement known as the "Tiger Slam". He is the only golfer to have won all four professional major championships in a row.
Youngest golfer to achieve the Career Grand Slam
At age 24, Woods became the youngest golfer to achieve the Career Grand Slam.
Most PGA Tour wins
Woods has won 82 official PGA Tour events, tied with Sam Snead, and nine ahead of Jack Nicklaus' 73 wins. He holds the record for most wins in history.
Lowest career scoring average in PGA Tour history
Woods holds the record for the lowest career scoring average in PGA Tour history. In 2000, his scoring average was 67.794 (adjusted) and 68.17 (unadjusted), the lowest in PGA Tour history. He won the Vardon Trophy in 2007 with an adjusted scoring average of 67.794, equalling his 2000 season. These are the only two times in PGA Tour history that a player had an adjusted scoring average under 68.
Most consecutive cuts made
Woods set the all-time PGA Tour record for most consecutive cuts made, with 142. The streak started in 1998 and ended in 2005. Many consider this to be one of the most remarkable golf accomplishments of all time, given the margin by which he broke the old record.
PGA Player of the Year
Woods has been the PGA Player of the Year a record eleven times.
PGA Tour Player of the Year
Woods has been the PGA Tour Player of the Year a record eleven times.
PGA Tour Money Leader
Woods has been the PGA Tour Money Leader a record ten times.
Vardon Trophy winner
Woods has been the recipient of the Vardon Trophy a record nine times.
Byron Nelson Award
Woods has been the recipient of the Byron Nelson Award a record nine times.
Longest drive in PGA Tour history
At the 2002 Mercedes Championships, Woods hit a 498-yard drive on the par-5 18th, the longest drive in PGA Tour history.
Most consecutive rounds at par or better
Woods holds the PGA Tour record for most consecutive rounds at par or better, with 52. When including non-PGA Tour events, the streak was 66.
First player to win at least eight times in three different seasons
Woods' victory at the 2006 WGC-American Express Championship made him the first player in PGA Tour history to win at least eight times in three different seasons.
Only golfer to win each major at least three times
With his win in the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods joined Nicklaus as the only golfers to win each major at least three times.
"Tiger-proofing"
Woods' success led to many courses in the PGA Tour rotation adding yardage to their tees in an effort to reduce the advantage of long hitters like him. This strategy became known as "Tiger-proofing".
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Woods is one of the highest-earning golfers
Tiger Woods is one of the highest-earning golfers of all time. In 2022, Forbes certified him as a billionaire, making him only the second active athlete ever with that distinction, after LeBron James. Woods has earned roughly $1.8 billion pre-tax in his pro-golf career, including a PGA Tour record of $121 million in prize money. His career earnings are a testament to his success as a golfer, with 106 worldwide wins and 15 majors.
Woods has parlayed his golfing paychecks into lucrative investments, including two homes on Jupiter Island, a golf course design business, and a high-end mini-golf chain called Popstroke. He is also a partner in Nexxus, a luxury real-estate venture with Justin Timberlake and British billionaire Joe Lewis. In addition to his real estate ventures, Woods has expanded his golf apparel line, Sun Day Red, to select private and resort destinations, increasing the visibility and reach of his brand.
Woods has also leveraged his fame and expertise to secure lucrative endorsement deals. He has endorsed the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series of video games since 1999 and signed a six-year contract with Electronic Arts in 2006. In 2007, Woods became an ambassador for the "Gillette Champions" marketing campaign alongside Roger Federer and Thierry Henry. While the financial terms of the Gillette deal were not disclosed, an expert estimated the value at between $10 million and $20 million.
Woods has also collaborated with brands outside the world of golf. In 2005, he worked with TAG Heuer to develop the world's first professional golf watch, which won the prestigious iF product design award in 2006. Despite a brief suspension of their relationship in 2009 due to Woods' infidelity scandal, Nike continued to support him, and they remain linked today.
Woods' success on and off the golf course has solidified his status as one of the highest-earning golfers of all time. His endorsements, investments, and business ventures have contributed significantly to his wealth, positioning him as a leading figure in the world of sports and beyond.
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He has designed golf courses
Tiger Woods is not just a golfer, he is also a golf course designer. TGR Design by Tiger Woods is the name of his golf course design company. Woods has stated that he and the company take on one or two select projects at a time.
The first golf course designed by Woods was Bluejack National, which opened in Montgomery, Texas, in April 2016. Bluejack National also includes "The Playgrounds", a 10-hole par-3 course. The course was constructed in early 2009 and completed in late 2010. It is a 6,835-yard par 70 course.
TGR Design's first public course, Payne's Valley, is located in Ridgedale, Missouri. It is a 9-hole par 3 course located on the former site of the Peter Hay Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. Hole 2 at The Hay is an exact replica of hole 7 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Payne's Valley was named the Best New Public Course in America by Golf Digest when it opened in 2021.
In addition to these, Woods has also designed courses such as El Cardonal at Diamante, which opened in 2015 and ranked 26th in Golfweek's Best 2019: Top 50 Mexico & Caribbean courses. Chicago's South Shore and Jackson Park golf courses will also undergo a restoration by TGR Design and be combined into an 18-hole championship course.
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Woods has also designed golf apparel
Tiger Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history. Woods turned professional in 1996 and has since built an unprecedented competitive career. His achievements on the course have been remarkable, with 106 worldwide wins and 15 majors. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins and ranks second in men's major championships.
Woods has also ventured into designing golf apparel. In February 2024, he unveiled a new logo and clothing brand called 'Sun Day Red'. This came shortly after his split from longtime partner Nike, with whom he had a 27-year partnership. The name 'Sun Day Red' is a reference to Woods' tradition of wearing a red polo on the final day of a tournament, which his mother told him was a power colour. The logo features a jumping tiger with 15 stripes, representing his 15 major titles, and the promise to add another stripe if he wins another major.
Sun Day Red markets itself as a "premium active lifestyle brand", offering full apparel and footwear lines, as well as luxury logo tees, fleece, and hats for everyday wear. Each piece incorporates specific requests from Woods, such as enhanced shoulder seaming for unrestricted swings, two-way zippers, and pocket seaming that eliminates bulk. The brand also focuses on precision in design, with collars and cuffs measured for optimum performance.
Woods has stated that the brand embodies his love of playing and competing, and is aimed at people who share those values, both on and off the course. He has also mentioned that the clothing line incorporates insights from his years of experience adjusting his apparel to improve his performance. With Sun Day Red, Woods is sharing his secrets with the world, putting the athlete first in product decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
Tiger Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. He has had a significant impact on the sport, with many courses in the PGA Tour rotation adding yardage to their tees in an effort to reduce the advantage of long hitters like him—a strategy that became known as "Tiger-proofing". Woods dominated golf in the late 1990s and early 2000s, becoming the first player to win the four major tournaments consecutively. He is also known for his impressive amateur records, winning six USGA national championships before turning professional in 1996.
Tiger Woods has had numerous notable achievements in golf. He holds the record for most PGA Tour wins (82) and ranks second in men's major championships. He became the youngest golfer to achieve the Career Grand Slam at 24 and is the only player to win four consecutive major professional golf titles. He also won six consecutive events on the PGA Tour in 2000, breaking or tying nine tournament records in the U.S. Open.
Tiger Woods has had a significant influence beyond his achievements on the golf course. He has endorsed and collaborated on various projects, including the world's first professional golf watch with TAG Heuer and the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series of video games. He has also been an ambassador for marketing campaigns such as "Gillette Champions". Woods founded TGR, a multibrand enterprise that includes philanthropic endeavours such as TGR Foundation, a charitable foundation, and TGR Design, a golf course design company.
