Many say that Tiger Woods is the most important thing that has happened
to golf in the last fifty years !
Born in Cypress, California to an African-American
father and a Thai mother, he was playing golf almost as soon as he could
walk.
As an amateur player he rewrote most of
the records in the book so it was only to
be expected that he should turn professional, which he did in 1996.
His success as an amateur was to continue as Tiger Woods took the
professional stage, winning two out of the seven remaining events of
that year.
Could he follow this - well the answer
is undoubtedly Yes - for in his first Major
he walked away with the Green Jacket as he won the Masters by a record
12 shots.
Needless to say that from a spectator level
Tiger Woods sent the viewing figures through the roof.
His fans watch enthralled as his long, sweeping swing which generates
huge power, often leaving him with only a short iron
to the green, combines with his course management and superb putting
to make their superstar one of the Golfing Greats.
It is this talent which makes Tiger Woods
the favourite in any event he enters
and who can argue with this when he goes from strength to strength sweeping
all before him.
As in 1999 when he hit another level by winning no less than nine tournaments.
To date the only chink in his armour is
that of coping with the nations expectations at the Ryder Cup for he
has lost many of his games
within that competition. However, there is no doubt that Tiger Woods
has redefined Golf as he ushers in multi-million pound endorsements
whilst treating both the spectators and players of the game to an unrivaled
exhibition.
How can we then sum up Tiger Woods
- he is simply a Phenomenon !
| WON |
DATE |
| US Masters |
1997 (youngest winner, broke record for
lowest score and greatest margin of victory) |
| US PGA |
1999 |
| Bell South Classic |
1998 |
| Mercedes Championships |
1997 |
| Honda Asian Classic |
1997 |
| Walt Disney Classic |
1996 |
| US Walker Cup team |
1995 |
| Member of US World Amateur Team |
1994 |
| International Junior World championship |
1984, 1991 |
| US Junior Amateur Championship |
1991 |
| National Youth Classic |
1990 |
| US Amateur Championship |
1994 (youngest winner), 1995, 1996 |
| Las Vegas Invitational Competition |
1996 |
| Golf World Player of the Year |
1992 |
| Man of the Year |
1994 |
| Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year |
1996 |
| Contract with Nike |
1999 (biggest sponsorship deal in sporting
history) |