Person Biography:
Tiger Woods was born Eldrick Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California. His distinctive nickname "Tiger" came from his father Earl's Green Beret army past, as "Tiger" was the moniker of a South Vietnamese officer who saved Earl's life on several occasions.
As a child, Woods was one of junior golf's most accomplished players. At the age of 2, he putted against Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show, and at 3, he shot 48 for nine holes. He was featured in Golf Digest at the age of 5 and won several major youth titles in southern California.
Woods won three straight U.S. Amateur titles in 1994, 1995, and 1996 after winning three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles in 1991, 1992, and 1993. He turned professional in the summer of 1996, and the game of golf hasn't been the same since.
Woods' impressive career includes winning six USGA national championships, an NCAA title during his two years at Stanford University, and an unprecedented three consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships. He also won five times on the PGA Tour in 1999 and was chosen as the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and ESPY Male Athlete of the Year in 1997.
Woods' impact on the game of golf extends beyond his impressive statistics. He opened doors for diversity in golf, becoming the first African American and Asian American to win a major. He was granted dual citizenship by the Thai government in 1997 and became an international star and prime endorser of golfing equipment and apparel.
Despite his success, Woods remains humble and has a sense of humor intact. He once observed, "Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps."
