Tiger Woods(1975 — ?)

Tiger Woods

États-Unis

5 min read

Sports21st CenturyTurn of the 20th and 21st centuries, in the era of globalization and media coverage of professional sport.

American golfer born in 1975, considered one of the greatest players in the history of golf. Winner of 15 major tournaments, he profoundly revived the popularity and worldwide audience of the sport.

Frequently asked questions

Tiger Woods (born in 1975 in Cypress, California) is an American professional golfer who transformed the sport through his early talent and dominance. The key thing to remember is that he won 15 major tournaments and holds the record of 82 PGA Tour victories, tying the all-time record. What makes him singular is that he started playing golf before the age of two, even appearing on television, and that he became the youngest Masters champion at 21 in 1997, breaking racial barriers in a sport long reserved for a white elite.

Key Facts

  • Born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California
  • Turned professional in 1996 and won the Masters at Augusta in 1997, at age 21
  • Won 15 major tournaments between 1997 and 2019, including his victorious return at the Masters in 2019
  • Held the world number one golf ranking for several hundred weeks
  • Suffered a serious car accident in February 2021

Works & Achievements

1997 Masters at Augusta (1997)

His first major tournament victory, by a record margin, at just 21 years old.

2000 US Open at Pebble Beach (2000)

A crushing victory by 15 strokes, one of the greatest performances in golf history.

The “Tiger Slam” (2000-2001)

Holding all four major titles simultaneously, a unique feat in modern golf.

2008 US Open at Torrey Pines (2008)

A play-off victory despite a severely injured leg, a symbol of his tenacity.

2019 Masters (2019)

A fifth green jacket and a return to the top after years of injuries, a historic comeback.

TGR Foundation (Tiger Woods Foundation) (1996)

A charity he founded to improve access to education for underprivileged young people.

82 wins on the PGA Tour (1996-2019)

He tied the all-time record for victories on the American professional tour.

Anecdotes

At the age of two, little Eldrick "Tiger" Woods appeared on American television on Bob Hope's show, where he already displayed a swing astonishing for his age. His father Earl, a former soldier, had introduced him to golf as soon as he could hold a club.

In 1997, at just 21 years old, Tiger Woods won the Masters at Augusta with a record margin of 12 strokes over his nearest rival. He became the youngest winner in the tournament's history and the first golfer of African-American and Asian descent to triumph there, in a sport long reserved for a white elite.

Between 2000 and 2001, Woods achieved the feat of simultaneously holding all four major golf titles, a performance nicknamed the "Tiger Slam." No player had won these four tournaments in a row for decades.

In 2008, he won the US Open while playing on an injured leg, with a stress fracture in his tibia and torn ligaments in his knee. He prevailed after an exhausting playoff, only later revealing the full extent of his injuries.

After years of back injuries and several operations that seemed to have ended his career, Woods won the 2019 Masters, a return to the top regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in the history of sport.

Primary Sources

Tiger Woods's statement after his 1997 Masters victory (13 April 1997)
To win this tournament, as a minority, is very special. I hope it opens doors for others.
Press conference after the 2019 Masters victory (14 April 2019)
A few years ago, I didn't know if I'd ever play again. It feels unreal to be able to lift this trophy once more.
Tiger Woods on the influence of his father Earl (2006)
My father was my best friend and my greatest hero. He taught me everything about the game and about life.

Key Places

Cypress, California

Suburb of Los Angeles where Tiger Woods was born in 1975 and grew up.

Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia

Legendary course that hosts the Masters every year. Woods triumphed there five times, including his comeback in 2019.

Stanford University, California

Woods studied here and played on the college golf team before turning professional in 1996.

Jupiter Island, Florida

Coastal region of Florida where Tiger Woods lives, close to the state's many golf courses.

Pebble Beach Golf Links, California

Famous course where Woods won the 2000 US Open by a record margin of 15 strokes.

See also