Tiger Woods

Eldrick Tont 'Tiger' Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history. Born in Cypress, California, Woods was introduced to golf by his father, Earl Woods, a decorated Vietnam veteran and accomplished golfer himself, at an extraordinarily young age—he hit golf balls at just nine months old. By age three, he was featured on television demonstrating his precocious talent. Woods turned professional in 1996 and won his first PGA Tour event in 1997, the same year he won the Masters Tournament at age 21, making him the youngest Masters champion and the first player of Black and Asian descent to win a major championship. His dominance throughout the late 1990s and 2000s was historic, as he won 15 major championships, bringing him within one of Jack Nicklaus's all-time record. Despite personal controversies and multiple injuries that sidelined him, Woods staged a remarkable comeback, winning the 2019 Masters at age 43—a victory widely celebrated as one of sports' greatest comebacks. His impact on professional golf includes expanding its global reach and inspiring generations of younger players.