Early Life
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods was born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California. He is the only child of Earl and Kultida Woods. Woods's father, a Vietnam War veteran, introduced him to golf at a young age. By age two, he was already showcasing his talent on television, and by three, he was shooting impressive scores. Woods's exceptional skills quickly turned him into a child prodigy, dominating junior golf tournaments and capturing the attention of the golfing world.
Rise to Success
Woods's amateur career was marked by significant achievements. He won three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur Championships from 1991 to 1993 and three consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships from 1994 to 1996. He enrolled at Stanford University in 1994 and won the NCAA individual golf championship in 1996. Woods turned professional in August 1996 at the age of 20 and immediately signed lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Inc. and Titleist. He was named Sports Illustrated's 1996 Sportsman of the Year and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
Key Business Strategies
Woods has strategically leveraged his golfing success into significant business ventures. He founded TGR Ventures, a multi-brand enterprise encompassing his various companies and philanthropic efforts. This includes TGR Design, a golf course design firm; TGR Live, an events production company; and The Woods Jupiter, an upscale sports restaurant. In 2024, Woods became an equity holder in PGA Tour Enterprises. Woods is also a co-owner of PopStroke and owns golf courses such as Bluejack National in Texas and The Grove Golf Club in California.
Philanthropy
Woods's impact extends beyond golf through his philanthropic efforts. He established the Tiger Woods Foundation in 1996 with his father, Earl Woods. The foundation focuses on empowering students to pursue their passions through education, with programs in STEM and college access. The TGR Foundation has raised approximately $150 million and has served over 175,000 students with a college graduation rate of 98.7%.