Tiger Woods

1.1. Birth and Family

Woods was born Eldrick Tont Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California. His parents were Earl Woods (1932-2006) and Kultida "Tida" Woods. He was their only child, though he had two half-brothers, Earl Jr. and Kevin, and a half-sister, Royce, from his father's first marriage. His father, Earl, was a retired United States Army officer and a veteran of the Vietnam War. His mother, Kultida, originally from Thailand, met Earl during his tour of duty there in 1968. Woods has credited his mother for his success, stating that "without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible." His father, Earl, died on May 3, 2006, after battling prostate cancer. Woods also has a niece, Cheyenne Woods, who played golf for Wake Forest University and turned professional in 2012, making her pro debut at the LPGA Championship.

1.2. Ethnic Background

Woods's ethnic heritage is notably diverse. His father, Earl, was of African-American, Chinese, and Native American descent. His mother, Kultida, was of mixed Thai, Chinese, and Dutch ancestry. This complex background makes Woods one-quarter Thai, one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Caucasian, and one-eighth Native American. Woods himself coined the term "Cablinasian" to describe his ethnic make-up, a syllabic abbreviation derived from Caucasian, Black, American Indian, and Asian.

1.3. Nickname Origin

Woods's first name, Eldrick, was chosen by his mother, starting with "E" for Earl and ending with "K" for Kultida. His middle name, Tont, is a traditional Thai name. He was nicknamed "Tiger" in honor of his father's friend, South Vietnamese Colonel Vuong Dang Phong, who was also known as "Tiger" and was a Green Beret who preferred wearing tiger-stripe camouflage combat uniforms. Earl Woods wished to honor his friend, who was missing in action during the Vietnam War, by naming his son "Tiger" in hopes of his friend's survival and eventual reunion. Woods formally adopted "Tiger" as his official middle name on his 21st birthday, December 30, 1996.

1.4. Early Introduction to Golf

Woods was a child prodigy, introduced to golf before the age of two by his athletic father, Earl Woods. Earl was a single-digit handicap amateur golfer and one of the earliest African-American college baseball players at Kansas State University. Woods initially wanted to be a baseball player like his father but abandoned this goal after tearing his rotator cuff.

His early exposure to golf was extensive. At seven months old, he was given a putter as a toy and would drag it around while using a walker. By ten months, he would climb out of his high chair to mimic a golf swing. Earl, unable to communicate verbally with the young Woods, taught him how to hold a club using drawings. At age two, Woods was already using clubs as long as his shoulder height and made a television appearance, putting against comedian Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show. At three, he began practicing bunker shots and shot a 48 over nine holes at the Navy golf course in Cypress. At age four, he joined the Southern California Junior Golf Association (SCJGA) and quickly defeated a 10-year-old in a nine-hole match. He first broke 80 at age eight and broke 70 on a regulation golf course at age 12. His father, Earl, stated that Tiger first defeated him in golf at age 11, despite Earl trying his best, and Woods won every game against his father thereafter.

Woods grew up in Orange County, California, and played at the Navy golf course near the Joint Forces Training Base - Los Alamitos, where his military father had privileges. He also played at the par 3 Heartwell golf course and municipal courses in Long Beach, California. Woods also overcame a stuttering problem as a child, which was not widely known until he wrote a letter of support to a boy who contemplated suicide, sharing his own experience of taking a two-year class to overcome his stutter.

2.1. Junior Achievements

Woods's junior career was exceptionally successful. He won the Under Age 10 section of the Drive, Pitch, and Putt competition before turning seven. He won the Junior World Golf Championships six times, including four consecutive wins from 1988 to 1991. At 15, while attending Western High School in Anaheim, he became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur champion, a record that stood until 2010. He was named Southern California Amateur Player of the Year for two consecutive years (1990, 1991) and Golf Digest Junior Amateur Player of the Year in 1991.

2.2. National Junior Tournaments

In 1989, at age 13, Woods made his debut in a major national junior tournament, the Big I. He was notably paired with the then-relatively unknown professional John Daly in the final round. Despite leading by two strokes with four holes remaining, Woods ultimately lost by a single stroke after Daly birdied three of the last four holes. In 1992, he successfully defended his U.S. Junior Amateur Championship title, becoming the first two-time winner of the tournament. The following year, he won his third consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur, a feat that remains unmatched. In 1994, at the TPC at Sawgrass in Florida, he became the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur, a record he held until 2008. He was a member of the American team that won the 1994 Eisenhower Trophy World Amateur Golf Team Championships and participated in the losing 1995 Walker Cup team.

2.3. Collegiate Golf Career

Woods was highly sought after by top college golf programs and ultimately chose Stanford University, which was the reigning NCAA Division I men's golf champion. He enrolled in the fall of 1994 on a golf scholarship and immediately won his first collegiate event, the 40th Annual William H. Tucker Invitational, that September. He pursued a major in economics and was affectionately nicknamed "Urkel" by his college teammate Notah Begay III. In 1995, he successfully defended his U.S. Amateur title at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. That same year, he was voted Pac-10 Player of the Year, NCAA First Team All-American, and Stanford's Male Freshman of the Year, an award recognizing athletic excellence across all sports. At age 19, Woods participated in his first PGA Tour major, the 1995 Masters Tournament, where he tied for 41st place as the only amateur to make the cut. In 1996, at age 20, he became the first golfer to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles and also secured the NCAA individual golf championship. He earned the silver medal as the leading amateur at the 1996 Open Championship, tying the record for an amateur aggregate score of 281.

2.4. Decision to Turn Professional

After two highly successful years at Stanford University, Woods made the decision to leave college and turn professional in August 1996. His decision was influenced by his rapid ascent in the amateur ranks and the lucrative opportunities that awaited him in the professional golf industry. In 1996, Woods relocated from California, citing the state's high tax rate as a factor in his move.

3.1. Professional Debut and Early Success

Woods turned professional in August 1996 at the age of 20. Immediately upon entering the professional circuit, he signed groundbreaking advertising deals with Nike, Inc. and Titleist, which were, at the time, the most lucrative endorsement contracts in golf history. His immediate impact was recognized when he was named Sports Illustrated's 1996 Sportsman of the Year and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

His rapid ascent continued into 1997. On April 13, 1997, he secured his first major championship, the 1997 Masters Tournament, in record-breaking fashion. At just 21 years old, he became the youngest winner of the tournament, winning by an astounding 12 strokes. This victory earned him a prize of 486.00 K USD. Just two months later, in June 1997, he set a new record for the fastest ascent to the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking, achieving this feat in less than a year after turning professional. After a relatively quiet 1998 season, Woods concluded the 1999 season with eight victories, including the 1999 PGA Championship, a level of success not seen on the tour since Johnny Miller in 1974. In 1999, Woods, who had severe myopia with an eyesight rating of 11 diopters, underwent successful laser eye surgery to correct his vision, after which he immediately resumed winning tour events.

3.2. Dominance and Records

The early 2000s marked a period of unparalleled dominance for Tiger Woods. In 2000, he achieved six consecutive victories on the PGA Tour, marking the longest winning streak since Ben Hogan's in 1948. One of these victories was the U.S. Open, where he broke or tied nine tournament records in what Sports Illustrated hailed as "the greatest performance in golf history." He won that tournament by a record 15-stroke margin, earning 800.00 K USD. At age 24, he became the youngest golfer to achieve the Career Grand Slam. By the end of 2000, Woods had won nine of the twenty PGA Tour events he entered and had broken the record for the lowest scoring average in tour history. He was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year for the second time, becoming the only athlete to receive this honor twice, and was ranked by Golf Digest magazine as the twelfth-best golfer of all time.

When Woods won the 2001 Masters, he became the only player to hold all four major professional golf titles simultaneously, an achievement famously dubbed the "Tiger Slam," despite not occurring in the same calendar year. Following stellar performances in 2001 and 2002, where he continued to dominate the tour, Woods experienced a relative slump, failing to win a major in 2003 or 2004. In September 2004, Vijay Singh overtook Woods in the Official World Golf Rankings, ending Woods's remarkable streak of 264 consecutive weeks at No. 1.

Woods rebounded powerfully in 2005, securing six PGA Tour victories and reclaiming the top spot in the world rankings in July after a back-and-forth battle with Singh during the first half of the year. He started 2006 dominantly, winning his first two PGA tournaments, but failed to capture his fifth Masters championship in April. Following the death of his father in May, Woods took a break from the tour and appeared rusty upon his return at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club, where he missed the cut. However, he quickly regained his form, ending the year by winning six consecutive tour events. By the close of the season, Woods had accumulated 54 total wins, including 12 majors, breaking tour records for both total wins and total major victories over an eleven-season span.

Woods continued his exceptional play in 2007 and the first part of 2008. In April 2008, he underwent knee surgery, causing him to miss the next two months of the tour. He returned for the 2008 U.S. Open, where, despite struggling on the first day, he ultimately claimed a dramatic sudden-death victory over Rocco Mediate after an 18-hole playoff. Mediate remarked, "This guy does things that are just not normal by any stretch of the imagination," and Kenny Perry added, "He beat everybody on one leg." Two days later, Woods announced he would miss the remainder of the season due to additional knee surgery, revealing his knee was more severely damaged than previously disclosed. Woods himself called this victory "my greatest ever championship." In his absence, television ratings for the remainder of the season saw a significant decline from 2007.

Woods made a highly anticipated return to golf in 2009, performing well and delivering a spectacular performance at the 2009 Presidents Cup. However, he failed to win a major that year, marking the first time since 2004 that he did not secure a major title.

3.3. Major Championships

Tiger Woods has won 15 major championships, placing him second all-time behind Jack Nicklaus (18). He is one of only five players to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest to do so. He is also the only player to have consecutively won all four major championships open to professionals, achieving this feat across the 2000-2001 seasons, known as the "Tiger Slam."

3.4. PGA Tour and Other Tour Wins

Woods has won 82 official PGA Tour events, tying him for first all-time with Sam Snead. He is considered one of the "greatest closers in history," holding a 14-1 record when entering the final round of a major with at least a share of the lead. He also holds the lowest career scoring average and the largest career earnings of any player in PGA Tour history.

His victories extend beyond majors and include significant wins in other professional tours. He has 41 European Tour wins (3rd all-time), 2 Japan Golf Tour wins, 1 Asian PGA Tour win, 1 PGA Tour of Australasia win, and 17 other professional wins. Woods has won tournaments in his 100th (2000), 200th (2006), and 300th (2013 Players Championship) PGA Tour starts.

His PGA Tour career summary is detailed below:

As of 2024 season

3.5. World Golf Championships (WGC)

Woods has achieved remarkable success in the World Golf Championships (WGC) series, securing 18 victories. He won at least one WGC event in each of the first 11 years after the series began in 1999.

¹Cancelled due to 9/11

Win

Top 10

Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play

WD = withdrew

NT = No tournament

"T" = tied

Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.

3.6. The Players Championship

Woods has won The Players Championship twice, an event often considered the unofficial fifth major due to its prestige and strong field.

3.7. Playing Style and Coaching

When Woods first joined the PGA Tour in 1996, his long drives had a significant impact on the world of golf. Initially, he prioritized accuracy over distance, insisting on the use of True Temper Dynamic Gold steel-shafted clubs and smaller steel clubheads. This led to some opponents catching up to his driving distance, and in 2003, Phil Mickelson even made a public joke about Woods using "inferior equipment," which caused some tension.

In 2004, Woods finally upgraded his driver technology to a larger clubhead and a graphite shaft. This, combined with his exceptional clubhead speed, once again made him one of the longest players off the tee on the tour. Despite his power advantage, Woods has always focused on developing an excellent all-around game. While his driving accuracy has sometimes been lower in Tour rankings, his iron play is generally accurate, his recovery and bunker play are very strong, and his putting, especially under pressure, is often considered his greatest asset. He is largely responsible for a shift towards higher standards of athleticism among professional golfers and is known for dedicating more hours to practice than most.

From mid-1993, during his amateur career, until 2004, Woods worked almost exclusively with leading swing coach Butch Harmon. Starting in mid-1997, Harmon and Woods significantly redeveloped Woods's full swing, leading to greater consistency, improved distance control, and better kinesiology. These changes began to yield significant results by 1999. After parting ways with Harmon, Woods was coached by Hank Haney from March 2004 to 2010, who focused on flattening his swing plane. Although Woods continued to win tournaments under Haney, his driving accuracy notably declined. Haney resigned in May 2010 and was replaced by Sean Foley.

Woods's caddies have also played a crucial role in his career. Mike "Fluff" Cowan served as his caddie from the beginning of his professional career until Woods dismissed him in March 1999. Cowan was succeeded by Steve Williams, who became a close friend of Woods and is often credited with assisting him with critical shots and putts. In June 2011, Woods dismissed Williams, who was surprised by the decision, after Williams caddied for Adam Scott at the U.S. Open. Woods then had his friend Bryon Bell serve as an interim caddie before hiring Joe LaCava, a former caddie for both Fred Couples and Dustin Johnson. LaCava has remained Woods's caddie since then.

Woods is famously known for wearing a red shirt on the final day of tournaments. This tradition began at the suggestion of his mother, Kultida, who believed red was his "lucky color."

3.8. "Tiger Effect" and Course Design

Early in Woods's career, his unprecedented dominance raised concerns among some golf industry analysts about its potential impact on the sport's competitiveness and public appeal. Sportswriter Bill Lyon of Knight Ridder even questioned whether Woods was "actually bad for golf," though he ultimately concluded he was not. Initially, some pundits worried that Woods's exceptional skills would render existing courses obsolete and reduce professional golf to a competition for second place.

A study by University of California, Berkeley economist Jennifer Brown found a measurable "Tiger Effect": other golfers scored worse when competing against Woods than when he was absent from a tournament. Highly skilled golfers' scores were nearly one stroke higher when playing against Woods. This effect was more pronounced during his winning streaks and disappeared during his well-publicized slump in 2003-2004. Brown explained this phenomenon by suggesting that while competitors of similar skill might increase their effort to win, facing a "superstar" like Woods might lead to reduced effort, as extra exertion does not significantly improve their chances of winning but increases the risk of injury or exhaustion.

In response to Woods's long-hitting prowess, many courses in the PGA Tour rotation, including major championship sites like Augusta National Golf Club, began adding yardage to their tees. This strategy became widely known as "Tiger-proofing," aimed at mitigating the advantage of long hitters. Woods, however, stated that he welcomed these changes, as adding yardage to courses did not diminish his ability to win.

Beyond his playing career, Woods has ventured into golf course design. He announced the formation of Tiger Woods Design in November 2006, with the intention of designing courses globally. The company's first project was slated to be the Al Ruwaya Golf Course as part of The Tiger Woods Dubai, a 25.30 M ft² development. Although initially expected to finish construction in 2009, only seven holes were completed by February 2010, and by April 2011, The New York Times reported the project had been permanently shelved. The partnership between Tiger Woods Design and Dubai Holding was officially dissolved in 2013.

Two other announced projects, The Cliffs at High Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina (announced August 2007) and a course in Punta Brava, Mexico (announced October 2008), also faced significant delays and have not materialized. The Cliffs project experienced cash flow problems and suspended construction after its November 2008 groundbreaking. In 2019, the 800-acre site was sold for 19.30 M USD, with 550 acres listed for a similar price in 2024, though no evidence of Woods's continued involvement has been found. The Punta Brava course was delayed due to permit issues and an environmental impact study, and construction has not yet begun. These project challenges have been attributed to factors such as overly optimistic financial estimates, the global economic downturn (particularly the U.S. crash in home prices), and a decrease in Woods's marketability following his 2009 infidelity scandal.

3.9. Career Achievements Summary

Tiger Woods has amassed an extraordinary list of career achievements, solidifying his place as one of golf's all-time greats. He holds the record for the most consecutive weeks and the greatest total number of weeks as the world's top-ranked golfer. He has been honored with the PGA Player of the Year award a record 11 times and has won the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times. Woods also holds the record for leading the money list in ten different seasons.

He has won 15 professional major golf championships, trailing only Jack Nicklaus, who has 18. His 82 PGA Tour victories are tied for first all-time with Sam Snead. Woods leads all active golfers in both career major wins and career PGA Tour wins. He is the fifth player (after Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus) to achieve the career Grand Slam, and he was the youngest to do so. Notably, he is also the second golfer, after Nicklaus, to achieve a career Grand Slam three times.

Woods has won 18 World Golf Championships. He was also a member of the victorious American team in the 1999 Ryder Cup. In May 2019, following his Masters win, Woods was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump, becoming the fourth golfer to receive this prestigious honor.

3.10. Major Career Slumps and Comebacks

The latter part of Woods's career has been marked by significant periods of struggle, primarily due to a combination of personal issues and recurring injuries, followed by remarkable comebacks. After his dominant run in the early 2000s, Woods experienced a relative slump in 2003 and 2004, failing to win a major championship.

His personal life came under intense public scrutiny at the end of 2009 following revelations of marital infidelities. This led him to take an indefinite break from competitive golf starting in December 2009. He returned to competition in April 2010 at the Masters, where he finished tied for fourth. However, the subsequent years saw a decline in his performance and a drop in his world ranking, reaching as low as No. 58 in November 2011. He gradually ascended back to the No. 1 ranking between March 2013 and May 2014.

A series of injuries then severely impacted his career. He underwent four back surgeries between 2014 and 2017. These physical setbacks limited his play significantly; he competed in only one tournament between August 2015 and January 2018, causing him to fall off the list of the world's top 1,000 golfers. Despite these challenges, Woods made a steady return to the top of the game. He won his first tournament in five years at the Tour Championship in September 2018, signaling a major comeback.

3.11. 2019 Masters Comeback

The pinnacle of Woods's comeback was his triumphant return to major championship victory at the 2019 Masters Tournament on April 14, 2019. This marked his first major win in eleven years and his 15th major overall. He finished 13 under par, securing a one-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, and Brooks Koepka. At 43 years old, Woods became the second-oldest golfer ever to win the Masters, a feat surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won in 1986. This victory was widely celebrated as one of the most significant comebacks in sports history.

3.12. Later Career and Injuries

Following his 2019 Masters victory, Woods continued to manage his career amidst ongoing physical challenges. In August 2019, he announced that he underwent knee surgery to repair minor cartilage damage, an arthroscopic procedure performed during the Tour Championship. He stated his intention to travel and play in Japan in October.

In October 2019, Woods participated in his first 2020 PGA Tour event at the Zozo Championship in Japan, which was the first-ever PGA Tour event held in the country. After playing a highly publicized skins game earlier in the week, Woods held at least a share of the lead after every round of the rain-delayed tournament, ultimately securing a three-stroke victory over Hideki Matsuyama. This win was his 82nd on the PGA Tour, tying him with Sam Snead for the most victories all-time.

In December 2020, Woods underwent his fifth microdiscectomy surgery on his back to remove a pressurized disc fragment that was pinching his nerve and causing him pain during the PNC Championship.

On February 23, 2021, Woods was involved in a serious single-car rollover crash in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He was hospitalized in serious but stable condition and underwent emergency surgery to repair compound fractures sustained in his right leg, in addition to a shattered ankle. An investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department determined that Woods was driving over 80 0, nearly twice the speed limit, before the crash, but no charges were filed. In an interview with Golf Digest in November 2021, Woods indicated that his full-time career as a professional golfer was over, though he would continue to play "a few events per year." He made his return to the PGA Tour at the 2022 Masters Tournament, where he made the cut and finished in 47th place. He later withdrew from the 2022 PGA Championship after the third round due to right leg pain.

In August 2022, Woods, along with Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley, announced the formation of TGL, a six-team virtual golfing league in partnership with the PGA Tour. In November 2023, Woods revealed himself as a co-owner and player for Jupiter Links Golf Club, a team established with investments by David Blitzer.

4.1. Family and Relationships

In November 2003, Woods became engaged to Elin Nordegren, a Swedish former model and daughter of former minister of migration Barbro Holmberg and radio journalist Thomas Nordegren. They were introduced in 2001 by Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, who had employed Nordegren as an au pair. Woods and Nordegren married on October 5, 2004, at the Sandy Lane resort in Barbados. They initially resided in Isleworth, a community in Windermere, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, Florida. In 2006, they purchased a 39.00 M USD estate in Jupiter Island, Florida, and began constructing a 10.00 K ft² home, where Woods moved in 2010 after their divorce.

Woods and Nordegren had two children: a daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, born in 2007, and a son, Charlie Axel Woods, born in 2009. Woods chose the name Sam for his daughter because his own father had always called him Sam.

Following his divorce from Elin Nordegren, Woods entered other notable relationships. On March 18, 2013, he announced that he was dating Olympic gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn. Their relationship concluded in May 2015. From November 2016 to August 2017, Woods was rumored to be in a relationship with stylist Kristin Smith. Between late 2017 and late 2022, Woods was in a relationship with restaurant manager Erica Herman. However, in early 2023, Herman filed a lawsuit against Woods concerning a non-disclosure agreement, alleging that it violated the Speak Out Act. Herman claimed she was owed 30.00 M USD after an oral agreement was breached when employees of Woods's trust "locked her out of the Residence, removed her personal belongings, and informed her she could not return."

4.2. Infidelity Scandal and Fallout

In November 2009, the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had an extramarital affair with New York City nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel, a claim Uchitel denied. Two days later, around 2:30 AM on November 27, Woods was involved in a single-car collision near his Florida mansion, where his Cadillac Escalade SUV struck a fire hydrant, a tree, and several hedges. He received treatment for minor facial lacerations and was issued a ticket for careless driving.

Following intense media speculation surrounding the crash, Woods released a statement on his website, taking sole responsibility for the incident, calling it a "private matter," and crediting his wife for assisting him from the car. On November 30, Woods announced he would not appear at his own charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, or any other tournaments in 2009 due to his injuries.

On December 2, after Us Weekly reported on a purported mistress and released a voicemail message allegedly left by Woods for the woman, Woods issued a further statement. He admitted to "transgressions" and apologized to "all of those who have supported [him] over the years," while reasserting his and his family's right to privacy. Over the subsequent days, more than a dozen women publicly claimed to have had affairs with Woods. On December 11, he released a third statement, admitting to infidelity and apologizing again, announcing an "indefinite break from professional golf."

In the wake of Woods's admissions, several companies re-evaluated their endorsement deals. Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade, and General Motors completely terminated their sponsorship agreements, while Gillette suspended advertising featuring Woods. TAG Heuer removed Woods from its advertisements in December 2009 and officially ended their deal when his contract expired in August 2011. Golf Digest magazine suspended Woods's monthly column starting with its February 2010 issue. In contrast, Nike and Electronic Arts continued their support. A December 2009 study estimated the shareholder loss for companies sponsoring Woods to be between 5.00 B USD and 12.00 B USD.

On February 19, 2010, Woods delivered a televised statement, revealing he had completed a 45-day therapy program that began in late December. He again apologized for his actions, stating, "I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them. I was wrong. I was foolish." He did not specify a return date for golf at that time, but on March 16, he announced he would play in the 2010 Masters Tournament.

After six years of marriage, Woods and Nordegren officially divorced on August 23, 2010.

4.3. Legal Issues and Accidents

Woods has faced several significant legal issues and accidents throughout his life.

On May 29, 2017, Woods was arrested near his home in Jupiter Island, Florida, by the Jupiter Police Department at approximately 3:00 AM EDT for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was found asleep in his car, which was stationary in a traffic lane with its engine running. Woods later stated that he had taken prescription drugs and did not realize how they might interact. On July 3, 2017, Woods tweeted that he had completed an out-of-state intensive program to address an unspecified issue. At his arraignment on August 9, 2017, Woods's attorney submitted a not guilty plea on his behalf, and Woods agreed to participate in a first-time driving under the influence offender program. At a hearing on October 27, 2017, Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He received a year of probation, was fined 250 USD, and was ordered to undergo 50 hours of community service along with regular drug tests. He was prohibited from consuming alcohol during his probation, with a potential sentence of 90 days in jail and an additional 500 USD fine for any violation.

On February 23, 2021, Woods survived a serious rollover car crash in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The incident was a single-vehicle collision, with Woods as the sole occupant, traveling north along Hawthorne Boulevard. He was transported by ambulance to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigated the incident, concluding that the car "sustained major damage" and that Woods was driving over 80 0, nearly twice the speed limit, before the crash. No charges were filed. Woods's agent later confirmed that he sustained multiple leg injuries and underwent emergency surgery to repair compound fractures in his right leg, in addition to a shattered ankle.

5.1. Endorsements and Wealth

During the first decade of his professional career, Woods was widely recognized as the world's most marketable athlete. Shortly after his 21st birthday in 1996, he signed lucrative endorsement deals with numerous companies, including General Motors, Titleist, General Mills, American Express, Accenture, and Nike. In 2000, he signed a five-year, 105.00 M USD contract extension with Nike, which was the largest endorsement package signed by a professional athlete at that time. Woods's endorsement is credited with significantly contributing to Nike Golf's transformation from a "start-up" golf company to a leading global golf apparel company and a major player in the equipment and golf ball market, with estimated sales of 600.00 M USD. He was described as the "ultimate endorser" for Nike Golf, frequently wearing Nike gear during tournaments and in advertisements for other products. Woods receives a percentage from the sales of Nike Golf apparel, footwear, golf equipment, and golf balls, and a building at Nike's headquarters campus in Beaverton, Oregon, is named after him.



In 2002, Woods was deeply involved in the launch of Buick's Rendezvous SUV. A company spokesman noted that Buick was pleased with the value of Woods's endorsement, as over 130,000 Rendezvous vehicles were sold in 2002 and 2003, exceeding forecasts. In February 2004, Buick renewed Woods's endorsement contract for another five years in a deal reportedly worth 40.00 M USD.

Woods collaborated closely with TAG Heuer to develop the world's first professional golf watch, released in April 2005. This lightweight, titanium-construction watch was designed to be worn while playing golf and could absorb up to 5000 Gs of shock, far exceeding the forces of a normal golf swing. In 2006, the TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch won the prestigious iF product design award in the Leisure/Lifestyle category.

Woods also endorsed the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series of video games, a partnership that began in 1999. In 2006, he signed a six-year contract with Electronic Arts, the series' publisher. In February 2007, Woods, along with Roger Federer and Thierry Henry, became ambassadors for the "Gillette Champions" marketing campaign, a deal estimated to be worth between 10.00 M USD and 20.00 M USD. In October 2007, Gatorade announced that Woods would have his own brand of sports drink, "Gatorade Tiger," starting in March 2008. This was his first U.S. deal with a beverage company and his first licensing agreement, reportedly valued at up to 100.00 M USD over five years. However, Gatorade decided to discontinue the drink in early fall 2009 due to weak sales. In October 2012, Woods signed an exclusive endorsement deal with Fuse Science, Inc., a sports nutrition firm.

In 1997, Woods and fellow golfer Arnold Palmer initiated a civil case against Bruce Matthews, the owner of Gotta Have It Golf, Inc., and others, seeking to stop the unauthorized sale of their images and alleged signatures in the memorabilia market. Matthews and his associates counterclaimed, accusing Woods and his company, ETW Corporation, of breach of contract and other violations. On March 12, 2014, a Florida jury sided with Gotta Have It on its breach of contract claims, rejecting ETW's counterclaims and awarding Gotta Have It 668.35 K USD in damages.

In August 2016, following news of Nike's exit from the golf equipment industry, Woods announced he would seek a new golf equipment partner. On January 25, 2017, it was announced that he signed a new club deal with TaylorMade, including the 2016 M2 driver and 2017 M1 fairway woods, with custom irons to follow. He also reintroduced his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter, a club he used to win 13 of his 15 majors. Additionally, in late 2016, Monster Energy became his primary bag sponsor, replacing MusclePharm. On January 8, 2024, Woods announced his departure from Nike after 27 years, ending one of the most lucrative endorsements in sports history.

Woods has consistently appeared on Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes. According to Golf Digest, he earned 769.44 M USD from 1996 to 2007, and the magazine projected he would exceed 1.00 B USD in earnings by 2010. In 2009, Forbes confirmed that Woods was indeed the world's first professional athlete to earn over 1.00 B USD in his career, factoring in a 10.00 M USD bonus for the FedEx Cup title. That same year, Forbes estimated his net worth at 600.00 M USD, making him the second richest person of color in the United States, behind only Oprah Winfrey. In 2015, Woods ranked ninth on Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, being the top among Asian Americans and fourth among African Americans. As of 2017, he was considered the highest-paid golfer globally. By 2022, Woods became the first golfer with a net worth exceeding 1.00 B USD, establishing him as one of the richest celebrities.

5.2. TGR Foundation

The TGR Foundation was established in 1996 by Woods and his father, Earl, initially as the Tiger Woods Foundation. Its primary mission was to promote golf among inner-city children. The foundation has organized junior golf clinics across the country and sponsors the Tiger Woods Foundation National Junior Golf Team in the Junior World Golf Championships. As of December 2010, the TGR Foundation employed approximately 55 people.

A key initiative of the foundation is the Tiger Woods Learning Center (TWLC), a 50.00 M USD, 35.00 K ft² facility located in Anaheim, California. The center provides college-access programs for underserved youth. Opened in 2006, the TWLC features seven classrooms, extensive multi-media facilities, and an outdoor golf teaching area. The center has since expanded its reach, establishing four additional campuses: two in Washington, D.C., one in Philadelphia, and one in Stuart, Florida.

The foundation receives support from annual golf tournaments hosted by Woods, including the Chevron World Challenge and the AT&T National. In October 2011, the foundation hosted its inaugural Tiger Woods Invitational at Pebble Beach. Other annual fundraising events have included the "Block Party" concert series, last held in 2009 in Anaheim, and "Tiger Jam," last held in 2011 in Las Vegas after a one-year hiatus.

5.3. Tiger Woods Design

In November 2006, Woods announced his intention to venture into golf course design through a new company, Tiger Woods Design. A month later, he revealed that the company's first course would be in Dubai, as part of a 25.30 M ft² development known as The Tiger Woods Dubai. The Al Ruwaya Golf Course was initially projected to be completed in 2009. However, by February 2010, only seven holes were completed, and in April 2011, The New York Times reported that the project had been permanently shelved. The partnership between Tiger Woods Design and Dubai Holding was officially dissolved in 2013.

Tiger Woods Design also undertook two other course projects that ultimately did not materialize. In August 2007, Woods announced The Cliffs at High Carolina, a private course planned for the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. Although a groundbreaking ceremony took place in November 2008, the project encountered cash flow problems and construction was suspended. In 2019, the 800-acre site was sold for 19.30 M USD, and in 2024, 550 acres of that land were listed for a similar price, though no evidence of Woods's continued involvement has been found. The Punta Brava course was delayed due to permit issues and an environmental impact study, and construction has not yet commenced. These project challenges have been attributed to factors such as overly optimistic financial estimates, the global economic downturn (particularly the U.S. crash in home prices), and a decrease in Woods's marketability following his 2009 infidelity scandal.

5.4. Writings

Woods contributed a golf instruction column to Golf Digest magazine from 1997 until February 2011. In 2001, he authored a best-selling golf instruction book titled How I Play Golf, which achieved the largest initial print run for any golf book, with 1.5 million copies. In March 2017, he published a memoir, The 1997 Masters: My Story, co-authored with Lorne Rubenstein, which focuses on his first Masters victory. In October 2019, Woods announced he would be writing another memoir, titled Back.

5.5. NFTs and New Ventures

Woods has expanded his business interests into new and emerging sectors, including NFTs. His "Iconic Fist Pumps Collection" was his first digital NFT collection, launched on the DraftKings Marketplace in collaboration with Autograph.io on September 28, 2021. Autograph, an NFT platform co-founded by Tom Brady, has facilitated NFT projects with prominent athletes such as Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Wayne Gretzky, and Tony Hawk. Woods's initial collection featured 10,000 digital images of his iconic moments, priced from 12 USD to 1.50 K USD, with 300 of these NFTs also accompanied by his official digital signature. NFTs launched on the Autograph platform grant fans exclusive access to unique content, early access to digital collectibles, custom merchandise, and invitations to private in-person events, depending on the specific utility of each NFT.

In August 2022, Woods, alongside Rory McIlroy, Mike McCarley, and the PGA Tour, announced the formation of TGL, a six-team virtual golfing league. In November 2023, Woods revealed his role as a co-owner and player for Jupiter Links Golf Club, a team established with investments from David Blitzer.

On February 12, 2024, Woods partnered with TaylorMade to launch his own golf apparel line, named "Sun Day Red." The brand prominently features Woods's signature red shirt, a color he famously wears on tournament Sundays.

7.1. Impact on Golf

Since his record-breaking victory at the 1997 Masters Tournament, Woods has been the most influential figure in golf. His presence in tournaments consistently drew massive fan followings and significantly increased golf's popularity. He is widely credited with dramatically increasing prize money in golf, generating interest among new PGA tournament audiences, and achieving the highest television ratings in golf history. His success and athletic prowess also inspired a shift towards higher standards of athleticism among professional golfers.

7.2. Cultural Impact

Woods's influence extended far beyond the golf course, establishing him as a global icon. His multi-ethnic background and exceptional talent resonated with diverse audiences worldwide, making him a symbol of athletic excellence and breaking barriers in a traditionally less diverse sport. His fame transcended sports, making him one of the most recognized athletes in modern history.

Woods was raised as a Buddhist and actively practiced his faith from childhood well into his adult professional golf career. He has attributed his personal deviations and infidelity to losing track of his Buddhist teachings, stating that "Buddhism teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught."

Woods is registered as an independent voter. In January 2009, he delivered a speech commemorating the military at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. In April 2009, Woods visited the White House while promoting the golf tournament he hosts, the AT&T National. He has also played golf with prominent political figures, including President Donald Trump in December 2016 and November 2017 at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

7.3. Legacy

Tiger Woods's legacy is defined by his unparalleled achievements, his transformative impact on golf, and his status as a global sports icon. He revolutionized the game with his powerful and athletic style, inspiring a new generation of golfers and significantly broadening the sport's appeal. Despite facing numerous personal and physical challenges, his remarkable comebacks have further cemented his legendary status, showcasing his resilience and enduring competitive spirit. His historical significance is undeniable, as he is consistently ranked among the greatest athletes of all time.