Tiger Woods

American golfer with a controversial private life, he tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in mens major championships, and holds numerous golf records. Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and one of the most famous athletes of all time. He has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame. On 13 April 1997 he catapulted to fame when he gave a record-setting performance the likes of which golf had never seen. With a record-setting score of 270, he became the youngest winner and the first person of mixed race in the 61-year history of the Masters to achieve such glory. He followed his victory with several more. In 1999, he won the World Cup for both individual and team performance. With his eight-stroke victory at the British Open, Woods became the youngest player to complete a Grand Slam on 24 July 2000, winning all four major championships: the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA. In his unprecedented career, he is the first player since 1937 to repeat a win in the PGA Championships. With his victory in Augusta, Georgia on 8 April 2001 Tiger Woods swept modern golfs four major championships. No one has succeeded in this sport more quickly or decisively than Woods. Before his 1996 professional debut, he was the youngest player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur title at the age of 15 and the first to win three of them. He left his amateur status and moved on to the pro circuit on 28 August 1996. In December 1996 and in 2000, he was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year, becoming the first athlete to ever be accorded that honor twice. In 1997 he signed endorsements with both Nike and Titleist that were worth $60 million over five years. His coach since 1992 is Butch Harmon (born 28 August 1943 in Detroit, Michigan). Woods was raised with love, rules, respect, confidence, and pride in his heritage that includes one-eighth Black, one-eighth American Indian, one-fourth White, one-fourth Chinese and one-fourth Thai. His parents raised their only child to take a productive place in society. His father Earl Woods, a retired military man, gave him his first golf club at the age of three and taught him concentration. When Tiger practiced as a kid, his dad would shout, wave things, run around and do whatever he could to distract him, from which the young Woods learned to focus. Now as a professional on the green, he will smile and wave at people, but when he turns his attention to his game, he moves into a zone that is focused. Earl Woods wrote a book about his famous son aptly named "Training a Tiger," published in June 1997. A Buddhist, Woods confirms that he meditates, but not as much as he used to. Though his world has become a glittering succession of private jets, chauffeured limos and room service, friends say that he is still his own easy-going, video-game-loving young self. Before his 25th birthday, Tiger broke up with former girlfriend Joanna Jogoda and his dad remarked that he’d probably not marry before 30. Young Woods had other things on his mind that year, including his game. In October his book, “How I Play Golf,” was published. Showing that he enjoys a good time, he dyed his hair blond on a short-lived whim while he was partying at a resort with his pal Michael Jordan over New Year’s. On 14 April 2002, at Georgias Augusta National Golf Club, the golfing great captured his third Masters crown -- joining Jack Nicklaus (who won in 1965 and 66) and Nic Read less