Tiger Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tiger Woods |
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Woods at the White House in 2025
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Eldrick Tont Woods |
| Nickname | Tiger |
| Born | December 30, 1975 Cypress, California, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 185 lb |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Jupiter Island, Florida, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Partner | Lindsey Vonn (2013–2015) Vanessa Trump (2024–) |
| Children | 2, including Charlie |
| Career | |
| College | Stanford University (two years) |
| Turned professional | 1996 |
| Current tour(s) | PGA Tour (joined 1996) |
| Professional wins | 110 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 82 (Tied-1st all-time) |
| European Tour | 41 (3rd all-time) |
| Japan Golf Tour | 3 |
| Asian Tour | 2 |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 3 |
| Other | 17 |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 15) |
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| The Masters Tournament | Won: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 |
| U.S. Open | Won: 2000, 2002, 2008 |
| The Open Championship | Won: 2000, 2005, 2006 |
| PGA Championship | Won: 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 2021 |
| Haskins Award | 1996 |
| PGA Tour Rookie of the Year |
1996 |
| PGA Tour money list winner |
1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013 |
| PGA Tour Player of the Year |
1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013 |
| PGA Player of the Year | 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013 |
| Byron Nelson Award | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 |
| Vardon Trophy | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013 |
| Laureus World Sports Award Sportsman of the Year | 2000, 2001 |
| PGA Tour FedEx Cup winner |
2007, 2009 |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom | 2019 |
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is one of the greatest golfers of all time. He has won many PGA Tour events and major championships. Tiger Woods is also one of the most famous athletes in modern history. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Contents
About Tiger Woods and His Family
Tiger Woods was born on December 30, 1975. His parents are Earl and Kultida "Tida" Woods. He grew up in Cypress, California. Tiger is their only child. He has two half-brothers and a half-sister from his father's first marriage.
Earl Woods was a retired U.S. Army officer. He was also a Vietnam War veteran. Kultida is from Thailand. She met Earl when he was working there. Tiger has a mixed background. He calls himself "Cablinasian" (Caucasian, Black, American Indian, and Asian).
Tiger's first name, Eldrick, was chosen by his mother. It starts with "E" for Earl and ends with "K" for Kultida. His middle name, Tont, is a traditional Thai name. He got the nickname Tiger from his father's friend, Colonel Vuong Dang Phong.
Tiger has a niece named Cheyenne Woods. She is also a professional golfer. Tiger's mother, Kultida Woods, passed away on February 4, 2025. Tiger has often said his mother was key to his success.
Tiger's Early Life and Amateur Golf Career
Tiger Woods was a child golf star. His father, Earl, taught him golf before he was two years old. Earl was a good amateur golfer himself. Tiger once wanted to be a baseball player. But he changed his mind after hurting his shoulder.
When Tiger was three, he played golf on TV. He shot a score of 48 over nine holes. At age five, he was featured in Golf Digest magazine. He also appeared on the TV show That's Incredible!.
At eight years old, Tiger won the Junior World Golf Championships. He won this event six times in total. He won four times in a row from 1988 to 1991. Tiger first beat his father in golf when he was 11. His father said he never beat Tiger again.
When Tiger was 13, he played in a big junior tournament. He was paired with professional golfer John Daly. Daly barely beat him by one stroke. Tiger also met golf legend Jack Nicklaus as a teenager. Nicklaus was impressed by Tiger's skills.
Tiger became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur champion at 15. He was a student at Western High School. He won this title three times in a row. No one else has done that. In 1994, he became the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur. He held this record for many years.
Tiger graduated from high school in 1994. He was voted "Most Likely to Succeed." He also learned to manage his stuttering as a child. He said talking to his dog helped him.
College Golf Journey
Many top colleges wanted Tiger to play golf for them. He chose Stanford University. He started there in 1994 on a golf scholarship. He won his first college event that same year.
In 1995, he won the U.S. Amateur title again. He was named Pac-10 Player of the Year. He also played in his first major PGA Tour event. This was the 1995 Masters. He tied for 41st place. Two years later, he won the Masters by a huge margin.
In 1996, Tiger made history. He became the first golfer to win three U.S. Amateur titles in a row. He also won the NCAA individual golf championship. Tiger left college after two years to become a professional golfer.
Tiger's Professional Golf Career
Tiger Woods turned professional in August 1996. He quickly signed big deals with Nike, Inc. and Titleist. These were the largest endorsement deals in golf history. He was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. He also won the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
On April 13, 1997, he won his first major championship. This was the Masters. He was only 21 years old. He won by a record-breaking 12 strokes. Two months later, he became the fastest player to reach No. 1 in the world golf rankings.
In 1999, Tiger won eight events. This included the PGA Championship. He had laser eye surgery in 1999 to fix his eyesight. He quickly started winning again.
In 2000, Tiger won six PGA Tour events in a row. This was the longest winning streak since 1948. He won the U.S. Open by a record 15 strokes. Sports Illustrated called it "the greatest performance in golf history." At 24, he became the youngest golfer to complete the Career Grand Slam. This means winning all four major championships.
Tiger won the 2001 Masters. This made him the only player to win four major titles in a row. This amazing feat was called the "Tiger Slam." He continued to dominate in 2001 and 2002.
In 2003 and 2004, Tiger didn't win any major championships. In September 2004, Vijay Singh took his No. 1 ranking. This ended Tiger's record streak of 264 weeks at the top.
Tiger came back strong in 2005. He won six PGA Tour events. He also got his No. 1 ranking back. In 2006, he won his first two tournaments. But he did not win the Masters. After his father passed away, Tiger took time off. He then won six events in a row. By the end of 2006, he had 54 wins and 12 major titles.
Tiger continued to play well in 2007 and early 2008. In April 2008, he had knee surgery. He missed two months of play. He returned for the 2008 U.S. Open. He won a dramatic playoff against Rocco Mediate. Mediate said Tiger did "things that are just not normal." Tiger later said he played with a badly damaged knee. He called it "my greatest ever championship."
Tiger returned to golf in 2009. He played well but did not win a major. This was the first year since 2004 he didn't win one. In late 2009, Tiger took a break from golf.
He returned in April 2010 at the Masters. He finished tied for fourth place. He struggled for the rest of the season. He did not win any events for the first time as a professional.
In 2011, Tiger's performance was still not at its best. His ranking dropped. He fired his longtime caddie Steve Williams. He then hired Joe LaCava. Tiger finally broke his winless streak in December 2011. He won the Chevron World Challenge.
The year 2012 saw Tiger win three PGA Tour events. He tied Jack Nicklaus for second most PGA Tour wins. A month later, he passed Nicklaus. He now trailed only Sam Snead for most wins.
In 2013, Tiger's strong play returned. He won the Farmers Insurance Open for the seventh time. He also won the WGC-Cadillac Championship for the seventh time. Two weeks later, he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for a record eighth time. This win moved him back to the top of the world rankings.
During the 2013 Masters, Tiger faced a penalty. He took an illegal drop on a hole. He was given a two-stroke penalty but was not disqualified. He finished tied for fourth. Tiger won The Players Championship in May 2013. This was his fourth win of the season.
Tiger had a tough time in 2014. He had back pain and needed surgery. He missed the Masters for the first time since 1994. He struggled when he returned to play. He missed the cut at the 2014 PGA Championship. He also parted ways with his swing coach, Sean Foley.
In 2015, Tiger withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open due to another back injury. He returned for the Masters. He finished tied for 17th. He then missed the cut at two major championships in a row. This was a first for him.
Tiger had more back surgery in September 2015. He missed all four major championships in 2016. He told PBS that he still wanted to break Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles. He had his fourth back surgery in April 2017. He returned to play at the Hero World Challenge. His world ranking jumped from 1,199th to 668th.
In March 2018, Tiger finished tied for second at the Valspar Championship. This was his best finish since 2013. He tied for sixth at the 2018 Open Championship. At the 2018 PGA Championship, he finished second. This was his best major result since 2009.
On September 23, 2018, Tiger won the Tour Championship. This was his 80th PGA Tour win. It was a big comeback victory.
On April 14, 2019, Tiger won the Masters. This was his first major win in eleven years. It was his 15th major title overall. At 43, he became the second oldest Masters winner. Only Jack Nicklaus was older. In August 2019, he had knee surgery.
In October 2019, Tiger won the Zozo Championship in Japan. This was his 82nd PGA Tour win. He tied Sam Snead for the most victories all time on the PGA Tour.
In December 2020, Tiger had his fifth back surgery. He returned to play at the 2022 Masters Tournament after a motor vehicle crash. He made the cut and finished 47th.
In 2022, Tiger, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley announced TGL. This is a new virtual golf league. In 2023, Tiger became a co-owner and player for Jupiter Links Golf Club.
Awards and Honors
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Tiger Woods has received many honors. In 2007, he was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In May 2019, President Donald Trump gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is a very high award for civilians.
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He was named the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year in 2000 and 2001. He also won the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year. The Associated Press named him Male Athlete of the Year four times. They also called him "Athlete of the Decade" in 2009.
Tiger Woods has greatly increased golf's popularity. His presence in tournaments brings in huge crowds. He has also helped increase prize money in golf. He is recognized as one of the most famous athletes in modern history. There is even a wax statue of him at Madame Tussauds.
Tiger's Golf Style
When Tiger Woods first joined the PGA Tour in 1996, his long drives were amazing. He focused on accuracy over distance. Over time, other golfers caught up to him. In 2004, he updated his golf clubs. This made him one of the longest hitters again.
Tiger has always worked on his all-around game. His iron shots are usually very accurate. He is also great at recovering from tough spots. His putting, especially under pressure, is one of his best skills. He helped make professional golfers more athletic. He is also known for practicing more than most.
Tiger worked with swing coaches to improve his game. He worked with Butch Harmon until 2004. Then he worked with Hank Haney until 2010. After that, he hired Sean Foley.
Fluff Cowan was Tiger's first caddie. Then Steve Williams became his caddie and a close friend. In 2011, Tiger dismissed Williams. He then hired Joe LaCava, who has been his caddie since.
Other Projects and Ventures
TGR Foundation
The TGR Foundation was started in 1996 by Tiger and his father. It was first called the Tiger Woods Foundation. Its main goal is to help kids from inner cities get into golf. The foundation holds golf clinics. It also sponsors a junior golf team.
The foundation runs the Tiger Woods Learning Center. This is a large facility in Anaheim, California. It helps young people prepare for college. The center opened in 2006. It has classrooms and golf teaching areas. The center has expanded to other cities too.
Tiger hosts golf tournaments to raise money for the foundation. These include the Chevron World Challenge and AT&T National. He also hosts other fundraising events.
Tiger Woods Design
In 2006, Tiger announced he would design golf courses. His company is called Tiger Woods Design. The first course was planned for Dubai. It was called The Tiger Woods Dubai. However, this project was stopped.
His company also planned courses in North Carolina and Mexico. But these projects have not been built yet.
Writings
Tiger Woods used to write a golf column for Golf Digest magazine. In 2001, he wrote a best-selling golf instruction book. It was called How I Play Golf. It sold 1.5 million copies. In 2017, he published a memoir. It was about his first Masters win. In 2019, he announced another memoir called Back.
NFTs
Tiger Woods launched his first digital collection of NFTs. These are called "Iconic Fist Pumps Collection." They were released on the DraftKings Marketplace in 2021. This project was with Autograph.io. Autograph is an NFT platform co-founded by Tom Brady.
Tiger's collection offered 10,000 digital pictures. They showed his famous "fist pump" celebration. Some NFTs also came with his digital signature. These NFTs give fans special access. This includes exclusive content and merchandise. It also offers access to private events.
Sun Day Red
In 2024, Tiger Woods partnered with TaylorMade. They launched his new golf clothing line. It is called "Sun Day Red." The line features his famous red shirt.
Tiger's Personal Life
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Relationships and Children
In 2003, Tiger got engaged to Elin Nordegren. She is a former model from Sweden. They met through Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik. They married on October 5, 2004, in Barbados. They lived in Windermere, Florida. In 2006, they bought a large estate in Jupiter Island, Florida. Tiger moved there after their divorce in 2010.
Tiger and Elin had two children. Their daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, was born in 2007. Their son, Charlie Axel Woods, was born in 2009. Tiger chose the name Sam because his father always called him Sam.
Later Relationships
On March 18, 2013, Tiger announced he was dating Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn. They broke up in May 2015. He was later in a relationship with restaurant manager Erica Herman. On March 23, 2025, he confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump.
Career Achievements
Tiger Woods has won 82 official PGA Tour events. This includes 15 major championships. He is known as "the greatest closer in history." This means he often wins when he is leading in the final round.
He has the lowest career scoring average in PGA Tour history. He also has the most career earnings. His win at the 2013 Players Championship was his 300th PGA Tour start. He also won his 100th and 200th tour starts.
Tiger has spent the most weeks as the world's number one golfer. He is one of only five players to win all four major championships. This is called the Career Grand Slam. He was the youngest to do it. Tiger is also the only player to win all four major championships in a row. He did this in 2000–2001.
- PGA Tour wins (82)
- European Tour wins (41)
- Japan Golf Tour wins (3)
- Asian PGA Tour wins (2)
- PGA Tour of Australasia wins (3)
- Other wins (17)
- Amateur wins (21)
Major Championships
Wins (15)
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
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| 1997 | Masters Tournament | 9 shot lead | −18 (70-66-65-69=270) | 12 strokes |  Tom Kite |
| 1999 | PGA Championship | Tied for lead | −11 (70-67-68-72=277) | 1 stroke |  Sergio García |
| 2000 | U.S. Open | 10 shot lead | −12 (65-69-71-67=272) | 15 strokes |  Ernie Els, Miguel Ángel Jiménez |
| 2000 | The Open Championship | 6 shot lead | −19 (67-66-67-69=269) | 8 strokes |  Thomas Bjørn, Ernie Els |
| 2000 | PGA Championship (2) | 1 shot lead | −18 (66-67-70-67=270) | Playoff1 | Bob May |
| 2001 | Masters Tournament (2) | 1 shot lead | −16 (70-66-68-68=272) | 2 strokes | David Duval |
| 2002 | Masters Tournament (3) | Tied for lead | −12 (70-69-66-71=276) | 3 strokes | Retief Goosen |
| 2002 | U.S. Open (2) | 4 shot lead | −3 (67-68-70-72=277) | 3 strokes | Phil Mickelson |
| 2005 | Masters Tournament (4) | 3 shot lead | −12 (74-66-65-71=276) | Playoff2 | Chris DiMarco |
| 2005 | The Open Championship (2) | 2 shot lead | −14 (66-67-71-70=274) | 5 strokes |  Colin Montgomerie |
| 2006 | The Open Championship (3) | 1 shot lead | −18 (67-65-71-67=270) | 2 strokes | Chris DiMarco |
| 2006 | PGA Championship (3) | Tied for lead | −18 (69-68-65-68=270) | 5 strokes | Shaun Micheel |
| 2007 | PGA Championship (4) | 3 shot lead | −8 (71-63-69-69=272) | 2 strokes | Woody Austin |
| 2008 | U.S. Open (3) | 1 shot lead | −1 (72-68-70-73=283) | Playoff3 | Rocco Mediate |
| 2019 | Masters Tournament (5) | 2 shot deficit | −13 (70-68-67-70=275) | 1 stroke | Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele |
1Defeated May in three-hole playoff by 1 stroke: Woods (3–4–5=12), May (4–4–5=13)
2Defeated DiMarco in a sudden-death playoff: Woods (3), DiMarco (4).
3Defeated Mediate with a par on 1st sudden death hole after 18-hole playoff was tied at even par. This was the final time an 18-hole playoff was used in competition.
Summary of Major Results
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 26 | 25 |
| PGA Championship | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 18 |
| U.S. Open | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 17 |
| The Open Championship | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 23 | 18 |
| Totals | 15 | 7 | 4 | 33 | 41 | 59 | 95 | 78 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 39 (1996 U.S. Open – 2006 Masters)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 8 (1999 U.S. Open – 2001 Masters)
Images for kids
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Woods at the 2004 Ryder Cup
In Spanish: Tiger Woods para niños
