Tiger Woods: The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of a Golf Legend

 Tiger Woods was born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, as Eldrick Tont Woods. He is the son of Earl Woods, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, and Kultida Woods, a native of Thailand. He was nicknamed Tiger after a Vietnamese soldier and friend of his father, Vuong Dang Phong.

He took an interest in golf at age 6 months, watching as his father hit golf balls into a net and imitating his swing. He started playing golf competitively at age 3 and won his first tournament at age 8. He became a golf prodigy, winning numerous junior and amateur titles, including three U.S. Junior Amateur Championships and three U.S. Amateur Championships.

He attended Stanford University from 1994 to 1996, where he studied economics and won the NCAA individual golf championship. He turned professional in 1996 and signed endorsement deals with Nike and Titleist, becoming one of the most lucrative athletes in the world.

He won his first major tournament, the Masters, in 1997, becoming the youngest and the first golfer of either African American or Asian descent to do so. He also achieved the No. 1 ranking in the world for the first time that year. He went on to win 14 more major championships, including four PGA Championships, three U.S. Open Championships, and three British Open Championships. He also won the career Grand Slam of professional major championships four times, and held all four titles simultaneously in 2000-2001, a feat dubbed the "Tiger Slam".

He dominated the sport for more than a decade, breaking numerous records and winning countless awards. He was named PGA Player of the Year 11 times, PGA Tour Player of the Year 10 times, and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year twice. He also led the U.S. team to victory in several Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup matches.

He married Elin Nordegren, a Swedish model, in 2004, and they had two children, Sam and Charlie. However, their marriage ended in 2010, after a scandal involving Woods’ infidelity and a car accident outside his home. He also faced several injuries and surgeries that affected his performance and ranking. He went through a slump in his career, failing to win any major tournaments from 2009 to 2018.

He made a remarkable comeback in 2019, winning his fifth Masters and his 15th major title, the second highest total in golf history. He also tied Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour wins. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump, becoming the fourth golfer to do so.

In 2020, he hosted and played in the Genesis Invitational, where he finished last among those who made the cut. He also played in the PNC Championship with his son Charlie, who impressed the golf world with his skills and resemblance to his father.

In 2021, he suffered a serious car accident that resulted in multiple fractures and injuries to his right leg. He underwent emergency surgery and was hospitalized for several weeks. He is currently recovering at his home in Florida.

He is the founder and CEO of TGR, a multibrand enterprise that includes his various companies and philanthropic endeavors, such as TGR Design, the golf course design company; The TGR Foundation, a charitable foundation; TGR Live, an events production company; and The Woods Jupiter, an upscale sports restaurant.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and one of the most famous athletes in modern history. He has inspired millions of fans and players with his talent, passion, and resilience.