Professional golfer and entrepreneur ldrick Tont Woods, popularly known as “Tiger Woods” can be described as legendary and awe-inspiring.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Professional golfer and entrepreneur ldrick Tont Woods, popularly known as “Tiger Woods” was born in Cypress, California. The only child of an African American Army officer father and a Thai mother, woods got his name “Tiger” from his father who began calling him by the name in honour of a fellow soldier and friend with the same moniker. He took interest in the game of golf at the age of six months, watching his father hit golf balls into a net and imitating his swing, it was from his gestures that he came to learn the sport under the guidance and teachings of his father, and through the teachings, Woods became extremely proficient at the game, receiving recognition and showcasing his skills on television shows.
At the age of 16, he played his first professional tournament at the 1992 Los Angeles Open, and made the 36-hole cut. He then took it up a notch tying for 34th place in the 1994 Johnnie Walker Asian Classic in Thailand. In the same year he played in Thailand, he enrolled at Stanford University and in two years’ time he won 10 collegiate events, concluding with the NCAA title.
Woods built quite the reputation with some of the most awe-inspiring amateur records in golf history when he won six USGA national championships before turning professional at the age of 20 years on the 27th of August 1996. Ditching his amateur title by winning an exceptional third consecutive U.S. Amateur title, finishing with a record of 18 consecutive match-play victories.
By the end of April 1997, he had already won three PGA Tour events in addition to his first major, the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 strokes in a record-breaking performance. He reached number one in the world rankings for the first time in June 1997, less than a year after turning pro. Woods became the youngest person to earn the title, and the first African American to accomplish this feat.
Woods went on to become a force to be reconned within the game of golf throughout the first decade of the 21st century and he had undoubtedly worked his way well to the top. At the age of 21 Tiger was the top-ranked golfer in the world from August 1999 to September 2004 and again from June 2005 to October 2010 and it was not by chance as he won 13 of golf’s major championships during his time as top-ranked golfer.
Although Woods’ career had taken a few hits from his personal problems and injuries between 2009 and 2017, he would fight his way through, winning several titles and trying to keep his career on track. On April 14, 2019, Woods completed a final-round 2-under 70 at the Masters for his first major championship in nearly 11 years. It was his fifth win at the Masters and the 15th major title of his career, reviving his chances of reaching the record 18 held by Nicklaus. Woods went on to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump in 2019, who noted the golfer’s ability to battle back from adversity and his “relentless will to win, win, win.”
On February 23, 2021, Woods was hospitalized in serious but stable condition after a single-car collision undergoing emergency surgery to repair compound fractures sustained in each leg in addition to a shattered ankle. With many fans wishing his a speedy and super recovery we hope to see him back in shape.
Through it all Tiger Woods has been an inspiration in the lives of many, his accomplishments remain massive and with his constant commitment to his career it is difficult to look at his down times or lows but rather easy to feel ready to take on the dreams that one has with persistence, practice and no looking back.
And that’s it for this week’s edition Sports Crush Saturday
Written by Hazel Tobo for Hollywoodbets.
