Tiger Woods biography

Tiger WOODS

EXEMPT STATUS: Winner, 1997 Masters Tournament (through 2007)
FULL NAME: Eldrick T. Woods
HEIGHT: 72
WEIGHT: 180
BIRTHDATE: December 30, 1975
BIRTHPLACE: Cypress, CA
RESIDENCE: Orlando, FL
FAMILY: Single
EDUCATION: Stanford University
SPECIAL INTERESTS: Basketball, fishing, all sports
TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 1996
JOINED TOUR: 1996
Personal:
Nicknamed "Tiger" after a Vietnamese soldier who was a friend of his father's in Vietnam...Putted against Bob Hope on the "Mike Douglas Show" at age 2, shot 48 for nine holes at age 3 and was featured in Golf Digest at age 5...In Feb. 1998, named to Blackwell's Best-Dressed List...Eighth athlete to be named Wheaties permanent rep, following Bob Richards (1958), Bruce Jenner (1977), Mary Lou Retton (1984), Pete Rose (1985), Walter Payton (1986), Chris Evert (1987) and Michael Jordan (1988)...Tiger Woods Foundation, chaired by father Earl, created to provide minority participation in golf and related activities...Foundation has pledged its full support to World Golf Foundation's The First Tee program...In 1997 won Sports Star of the Year Award, given to athletes who combine excellence in their sports with significant charitable endeavors...In 2000, on the cover of "Time" magazine, 40 years after Arnold Palmer became first golfer so honored...Web site is www.tigerwoods.com. PGA TOUR Playoff Record6-1
Other Information:
Fashioned one of the greatest seasons in the history of the sport and in the process assured a place among the best to ever play the game...Highlights included three consecutive major championship titles and career Grand Slam, nine PGA TOUR victories and TOUR single-season earnings record of $8,286,821...An eight-stroke British Open victory lifted him into company of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as holders of career Grand Slams and at the age of 24 was the youngest to do so...Became only the second player to win three majors in one season, joining Ben Hogan (1953)...Was 53-under par in four majors, next-best mark was 18-under by Ernie Els...His nine TOUR victories in a season were the most since Sam Snead won 11 in 1950...His 20th career win at U.S. Open made him youngest player in TOUR history to win 20 times...Started the season in historic fashion, with wins at Mercedes Championships and AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, giving him victories in six consecutive appearances, becoming first player since Hogan in 1948 to do so.

Finished T2, four strokes back of Phil Mickelson in attempt to win seventh consecutive start at Buick Invitational...At the Mercedes Championships, shared 54-hole lead with Ernie Els and after both players eagled the 72nd hole to remain tied, won playoff with birdie on second extra hole...Beginning final round of AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was five strokes back of Mark Brooks and Matt Gogel. On the back nine, trailed Gogel by seven with seven holes to play but eagle-birdie-par-birdie finish and final-round 64 good for two-stroke win over Gogel and Vijay Singh...T2 at Buick Invitational earned him $264,000 and he took over top spot on TOUR's career money list from Davis Love III, who had been No.1 for three weeks...After T18 at Nissan Open, reached the finals of the WGC -- Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship, losing to Darren Clarke 4 and 3...Rounds of 69-64 earned 36-hole lead at Bay Hill Invitational, which me maintained with closing 67-70 for 10th victory in 16 starts...A week later, was runnerup to Hal Sutton at THE PLAYERS Championship by one stroke...Finished fifth at the Masters Tournament after opening 75-72 and coming back with 68-69 on weekend. In first-round 75, made double bogey on 10 and triple bogey on 12...At GTE Byron Nelson Classic, closing 63 matched low round of tournament and lifted him to T4...In next start, held three-stroke lead through 54 holes at Deutsche Bank SAP Open before finishing third behind Lee Westwood. Marked first time since 1996, he had not won after holding 54-hole lead...A week later, successfully defended a title for the first time with win at Memorial Tournament...At U.S. Open, won by a major championship record 15 strokes (old record: Tom Morris, Sr., 13 at 1864 British Open) with rounds of 65-69-71-67--272 (-12) at Pebble Beach. His score tied a U.S. Open record held by Jack Nicklaus and Lee Janzen and his 12-under total broke record in relation to par...Following a T23 at Advil Western Open, completed career grand slam with eight-stroke victory over Thomas Bjorn and Ernie Els at British Open. With rounds of 67-68-67-69--269 (19-under), at St. Andrews, broke British Open and major championship record in relation to par...In head-to-head battle with fellow California junior star Bob May, won PGA Championship in three-hole playoff. With victory, became first player since Denny Shute in 1936-37 to defend PGA Championship. Playing in the final twosome of the day, both players shot back-nine 31s, with Woods birdieng the final two holes to force playoff, where he went birdie-par-par (3-4-5) for win. Rounds of 66-67-70-67--270 (18-under) gave him share of most under-par record with May...The following week, successfully defended another title at the WGC -- NEC World Series of Golf by 11 strokes over Justin Leonard and Phillip Price.

Started week with 64-61--125 to set an all-time PGA TOUR record for opening rounds. On the weekend, added a pair of 67s and finished at 21-under-par 259 for a Firestone South record...In next start, out of a fairway bunker on the 72nd hole, faded a six-iron from 213 yards over water to within 15 feet for eagle putt to secure a one-stroke victory over Grant Waite at the Bell Canadian Open. Joined Lee Trevino (1971) as only players to win U.S., British and Canadian Opens in same year and received Triple Crown Trophy from Royal Canadian Golf Association...A member of victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team...Closed official season with third place in defense of National Car Rental Golf Classic at Walt Disney World Resort, a second place in defense of THE TOUR Championship and T5 in defense of WGC-American Express Championship...At year's end, voted by his peers the PGA TOUR Player of the Year (Jack Nicklaus Award); the PGA of America Player of the Year for third time in four years; winner of the Byron Nelson Award and Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average; the Arnold Palmer Award as leading money winner; the GWAA Player of the Year; the Mark H. McCormack Award for leading Official World Golf Ranking for most weeks; the Andersen Consulting Medal for best performance in WGC events; the Palm Performance Award as leading.