Tiger Woods was born in Cypress, California, to Earl Woods, an African American army officer, and Kultida Woods, a Thai immigrant. He has two half-brothers and one half-sister from his father's previous marriage. Woods grew up in Orange County, California, and began playing golf at a young age. He attended Western High School in Anaheim, where he excelled academically and athletically. Woods was offered a golf scholarship to Stanford University, where he majored in economics.
Woods turned professional in August 1996, at the age of 20, and immediately signed endorsement deals with Nike and other companies. He won his first PGA Tour event, the Las Vegas Invitational, in October of that year, and finished his rookie season with two more victories. In 1997, Woods won his first major championship, the Masters, by a record-breaking 12 strokes. He went on to win the Masters again in 2001, 2002, and 2005, as well as the U.S. Open in 2000, 2002, and 2008, the British Open in 2000, 2005, and 2006, and the PGA Championship in 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2007.
Woods' dominance on the golf course was often attributed to his mental toughness and work ethic. He was known for his intense focus and practice habits, which included hitting thousands of golf balls every day. Woods was also known for his ability to hit the ball long and straight, and for his creativity and shot-making ability.
Woods' personal life became the subject of intense media scrutiny in 2009, when reports of his extramarital affairs emerged. Woods issued a public apology for his behavior and took a break from golf to focus on his family and his personal life. He returned to competitive golf in 2010, but struggled with injuries and a loss of form.
In 2017, Woods was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to probation, community service, and a mandatory drug treatment program. Woods later attributed his behavior to an addiction to prescription painkillers, which he had been taking to manage his chronic back pain.
Woods' career appeared to be in decline in the early 2010s, as he struggled with injuries and poor form. However, he staged a remarkable comeback in 2018 and 2019, winning the Tour Championship and the Masters, respectively. The Masters victory was particularly emotional for Woods, who had not won a major championship in 11 years and had undergone multiple surgeries for his back problems.
In recent years, Woods has continued to struggle with injuries and has played in fewer tournaments. He underwent surgery for a fifth time in December 2020, after experiencing discomfort in his back and legs. However, he remains one of the most popular and influential figures in the world of golf, and is widely regarded as a role model and inspiration to young golfers around the world.
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