Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tiger Woods
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Tiger Woods made an impact.
Tiger Woods is an American professional golfer, considered one of the greatest of all time. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins and ranks second in men's major championships, holding numerous golf records. Woods is a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee and a globally recognized athlete.
1948: Longest Winning Streak Since Hogan
In 2000, Woods won six consecutive events on the PGA Tour, which was the longest winning streak since Ben Hogan did it in 1948.
1974: Last Eight Wins Season
In 1999, Tiger Woods finished the season with eight wins, including the PGA Championship, a feat not achieved since Johnny Miller did it in 1974.
1986: Nicklaus's Masters Victory
On April 14, 2019, Tiger Woods won the Masters, his first major championship win in eleven years and his 15th major overall. At age 43, he became the second oldest golfer ever to win the Masters, after Jack Nicklaus who was 46 when he triumphed in 1986.
1992: Defends U.S. Junior Amateur Title
In 1992, Woods defended his title at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, becoming the tournament's first two-time winner. He also competed in his first PGA Tour event, the Nissan Los Angeles Open.
1993: Woods worked with Butch Harmon
From mid-1993, while still an amateur, Tiger Woods started working almost exclusively with leading swing coach Butch Harmon.
1994: Woods Misses the Masters for the First Time Since 1994
After undergoing back surgery, Tiger Woods announced on April 1, 2014, that he would miss the Masters for the first time since 1994.
1994: U.S. Amateur win
In 1994, Tiger Woods became the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur.
1995: Defends U.S. Amateur Title
In 1995, Tiger Woods successfully defended his U.S. Amateur title at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island and was voted Pac-10 Player of the Year.
1995: Walker Cup
In 1995, Tiger Woods was a member of the American team at the Walker Cup, which lost.
August 1996: Turns Professional
In August 1996, at age 20, Tiger Woods turned professional and signed lucrative advertising deals with Nike, Inc. and Titleist.
1996: TGR Foundation Established
In 1996, Tiger Woods and his father, Earl, established the TGR Foundation (originally the Tiger Woods Foundation) with the goal of promoting golf among inner-city children.
1996: Woods Turns Professional
In 1996, Tiger Woods turned professional at the age of 20 after a successful amateur career.
1996: Wins Third Consecutive U.S. Amateur
In 1996, at age 20, Tiger Woods became the first golfer to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles and won the NCAA individual golf championship.
1996: Endorsement Deals Signed
Shortly after his 21st birthday in 1996, Tiger Woods signed endorsement deals with numerous companies, including General Motors, Titleist, General Mills, American Express, Accenture, and Nike, becoming the world's most marketable athlete.
April 13, 1997: Wins the Masters
On April 13, 1997, Tiger Woods won his first major, the Masters, and became the tournament's youngest winner at age 21.
April 1997: Wins 1997 Masters
In April 1997, Tiger Woods won his first major, the 1997 Masters, by 12 strokes in a record-breaking performance.
1997: Swing Redevelopment with Harmon
From mid-1997, Butch Harmon and Tiger Woods worked on a major redevelopment of Woods's full swing to achieve greater consistency, better distance control, and improved kinesiology.
March 1999: Woods Dismissed Fluff Cowan
In March 1999, Tiger Woods dismissed Fluff Cowan as his caddie, ending their partnership.
August 1999: Ranked Top Golfer
In August 1999, Woods became the top-ranked golfer in the world.
1999: Successful Season
In 1999, Tiger Woods finished the season with eight wins, including the PGA Championship.
1999: Ryder Cup win
In 1999, Tiger Woods was part of the American winning team for the Ryder Cup.
1999: Swing Changes Pay Off
In 1999, the swing changes made by Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon started to yield positive results.
2000: Contract Extension with Nike
In 2000, Tiger Woods signed a 5-year, $105 million contract extension with Nike, which was the largest endorsement package signed by a professional athlete at that time.
2000: Career Grand Slam
Tiger Woods became one of five players to have won all four major championships in his career, known as the Career Grand Slam.
2001: Consecutively Won All Four Major Championships
In the 2000-2001 seasons, Tiger Woods became the only player to have consecutively won all four major championships open to professionals.
2001: "Tiger Slam"
When Tiger Woods won the 2001 Masters, he became the only player to win four consecutive major professional golf titles, although not in the same calendar year, an achievement that came to be known as the "Tiger Slam".
2002: Dominates the Tour
Following a stellar 2001 and 2002, Tiger Woods continued to dominate the tour.
2002: Involvement in Buick Rendezvous SUV Launch
In 2002, Tiger Woods was involved in every aspect of the launch of Buick's Rendezvous SUV. Over 130,000 vehicles were sold in 2002 and 2003.
2003: Haney Becomes Woods's Coach
In 2003, Hank Haney became Tiger Woods's coach.
2003: Slump Begins
In 2003, Tiger Woods' career hit a slump, as he did not win a major.
February 2004: Endorsement Contract Renewal with Buick
In February 2004, Buick renewed Tiger Woods's endorsement contract for another five years, reportedly worth $40 million.
March 2004: Woods Hired Hank Haney
In March 2004, Tiger Woods began working with coach Hank Haney, who focused on flattening his swing plane. While Woods continued to win tournaments, his driving accuracy decreased significantly under Haney's coaching.
2004: Equipment Upgrade
During 2004, Tiger Woods upgraded his driver technology to a larger clubhead and graphite shaft.
2004: Last Major Win Until 2009
In 2009, Tiger Woods failed to win a major, the first year since 2004 that he did not do so.
April 2005: Release of TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch
In April 2005, Tiger Woods collaborated with TAG Heuer to develop the world's first professional golf watch, a lightweight, titanium-construction watch designed for golfers.
June 2005: Regains Top Ranking
In June 2005, Woods regained the number one ranking in the Official World Golf Ranking.
November 2006: Tiger Woods Design Announced
In November 2006, Tiger Woods announced the creation of Tiger Woods Design, a company focused on designing golf courses around the world.
2006: Dominant Performance and Father's Death
In 2006, Tiger Woods began the year dominantly, winning his first two PGA tournaments, but took time off after the death of his father in May.
2006: Tiger Woods Learning Center Opened
In 2006, the Tiger Woods Learning Center (TWLC), a $50-million, 35,000-square-foot facility, opened in Anaheim, California, providing college-access programs for underserved youth.
February 2007: "Gillette Champions" Ambassador
In February 2007, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Thierry Henry became ambassadors for the "Gillette Champions" marketing campaign.
August 2007: Announcement of The Cliffs at High Carolina
In August 2007, Tiger Woods announced The Cliffs at High Carolina, a private course in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, to be designed by Tiger Woods Design.
October 2007: Gatorade Tiger Sports Drink Announcement
In October 2007, Gatorade announced that Tiger Woods would have his own brand of sports drink starting in March 2008.
March 2008: Launch of Gatorade Tiger
In March 2008, Gatorade launched "Gatorade Tiger", Tiger Wood's own brand of sports drink.
April 2008: Knee Surgery and U.S. Open Victory
In April 2008, Tiger Woods underwent knee surgery and missed two months of the tour. Despite struggling on the first day of the 2008 U.S. Open, he went on to win in a dramatic sudden death victory. Two days later, he announced he would miss the rest of the season for more knee surgery.
November 2008: Groundbreaking for The Cliffs at High Carolina
In November 2008, Tiger Woods Design broke ground on The Cliffs at High Carolina project; however, construction was later suspended due to cash flow problems.
September 2009: Last PGA Tour Win Until 2012
The Arnold Palmer Invitational win in 2012 was Tiger Woods's first win on the PGA Tour since the BMW Championship in September 2009.
2009: Woods's Best Major Result
At the 2018 PGA Championship, Woods finished second, two shots behind the winner Brooks Koepka. It was his best result in a major since 2009, when he finished second at the 2009 PGA Championship.
2009: Comeback, Infidelity Scandal, and Break from Golf
In 2009, Tiger Woods had a comeback to golf, performing well including at the 2009 Presidents Cup, but failed to win a major. After marital infidelities came to light, Woods announced in December 2009 that he would be taking an indefinite break from competitive golf.
2009: Al Ruwaya Golf Course Expected Completion
In 2009, the Al Ruwaya Golf Course was initially expected to finish construction.
2009: Last Block Party Concert
In 2009, the Block Party concert event, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, was last held in Anaheim.
2009: Woods's 17th WGC Title
In 2013, Tiger Woods's win at the WGC-Cadillac Championship gave him his 17th WGC title and first since 2009.
April 2010: Returns to Golf
In early April 2010, Tiger Woods returned to professional golf after a hiatus.
May 2010: Haney Resigned
In May 2010, Hank Haney resigned as Tiger Woods' coach under questionable circumstances, ending their coaching relationship.
October 2010: Loses Top Ranking Again
In October 2010, Woods lost the number one ranking in the Official World Golf Ranking again.
December 2010: TWF Employed 55 People
As of December 2010, the Tiger Woods Foundation (TWF) employed approximately 55 people.
2010: Return to Competition and Coaching Changes
In 2010, Tiger Woods returned to competition at the Masters, finishing tied for fourth place. He then had poor showings and withdrew from the Players Championship due to injury. Hank Haney, his coach since 2003, resigned, and Woods hired Sean Foley as his replacement. Woods failed to win a single event in 2010.
June 2011: Woods Dismissed Steve Williams
In June 2011, Tiger Woods dismissed Steve Williams as his caddie after Williams caddied for Adam Scott in the U.S. Open, replacing him on an interim basis with friend Bryon Bell.
October 2011: First Tiger Woods Invitational
In October 2011, the Tiger Woods Foundation hosted the first Tiger Woods Invitational at Pebble Beach.
November 2011: World Ranking Drops
In November 2011, Woods's world ranking fell to number 58.
2011: Ranking Decline, Injury, and Caddie Change
In 2011, Tiger Woods's performance continued to suffer, impacting his ranking. He tied for fourth at the Masters but missed several summer stops due to leg injuries. He fired his caddie Steve Williams and eventually hired Joe LaCava. His ranking fell to #58 before rising to No. 50 after a third-place finish. He ended his winless streak at the Chevron World Challenge in December 2011.
October 2012: Endorsement Deal with Fuse Science, Inc.
In October 2012, it was announced that Tiger Woods signed an exclusive endorsement deal with Fuse Science, Inc, a sports nutrition firm.
2012: Putting Revision and PGA Tour Win
In 2012, Tiger Woods started the season with inconsistent performances, revised his putting technique after a poor showing at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, and tied for second at The Honda Classic. After an injury, he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his first win on the PGA Tour since the BMW Championship in September 2009. Woods later tied Jack Nicklaus for PGA tour victories.
March 2013: Ascends to Number One Again
In March 2013, Woods ascended again to the number-one ranking.
May 2013: The Players Championship Win
In May 2013, Tiger Woods won The Players Championship, his second career win at the event, marking his fourth win of the 2013 season. This was the quickest he reached four wins in any season of his professional career.
2013: Elbow Injury, Poor U.S. Open Showing, and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Victory
In 2013, Tiger Woods had a poor showing at the U.S. Open due to an elbow injury. He later returned at the Open Championship and finished tied for 6th. He then won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, his 5th win of the season. However, he did not win a major in 2013, being in contention in only two of the four majors.
2013: Return to Dominating Play and World Number One
In 2013, Tiger Woods returned to dominating play, winning the Farmers Insurance Open, the WGC-Cadillac Championship, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his 17th WGC title since 2009. Winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational moved him back to the top of the world rankings. Nike launched an ad with the tagline "winning takes care of everything".
May 2014: Falls from Number One
In May 2014, Woods fell from the number-one ranking.
August 25, 2014: Parting Ways with Sean Foley
On August 25, 2014, Tiger Woods and his swing coach Sean Foley parted ways. Woods stated that there was no timetable to find a replacement.
February 5, 2015: Withdrawal from Farmers Insurance Open
On February 5, 2015, Tiger Woods withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open due to another back injury.
August 2015: Limited Tournament Appearances
From August 2015 to January 2018, Woods competed in only one tournament.
August 2015: Wyndham Championship Performance
In late August 2015, Tiger Woods played well at the Wyndham Championship, finishing the tournament at 13-under, only four strokes behind the winner, and tied for 10th place.
April 5, 2016: Masters Champions Dinner Attendance
On April 5, 2016, Tiger Woods attended the Masters Champions Dinner.
August 2016: Seeking a New Golf Equipment Partner
In August 2016, Tiger Woods announced that he would be seeking a new golf equipment partner after Nike's exit from the equipment industry.
October 2016: Ambition to Break Nicklaus's Record
In October 2016, Tiger Woods told Charlie Rose on PBS that he still wanted to break Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles.
January 25, 2017: Signs Club Deal with TaylorMade
On January 25, 2017, it was announced that Tiger Woods would be signing a new club deal with TaylorMade.
March 2017: Publication of "The 1997 Masters: My Story"
In March 2017, Tiger Woods published a memoir, "The 1997 Masters: My Story" co-authored by Lorne Rubenstein, focusing on his first Masters win.
January 2018: Drops out of Top 1000
By January 2018, Woods dropped off the list of the world's top 1,000 golfers.
September 2018: Wins Tour Championship
In September 2018, Tiger Woods won his first tournament in five years at the Tour Championship.
September 23, 2018: Tour Championship Victory
On September 23, 2018, Tiger Woods won the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club for the second time and that tournament for the third time, marking his 80th win on the PGA Tour.
April 14, 2019: Masters Victory
On April 14, 2019, Tiger Woods won the Masters, his first major championship win in eleven years and his 15th major overall. At age 43, he became the second oldest golfer ever to win the Masters, after Jack Nicklaus.
October 2019: Announcement of Memoir "Back"
In October 2019, Tiger Woods announced he would be writing a memoir book titled "Back".
2019: Wins 2019 Masters
In 2019, Tiger Woods won his first major in 11 years at the 2019 Masters.
September 28, 2021: Launch of "Iconic Fist Pumps Collection" NFT
On September 28, 2021, Tiger Woods' "Iconic Fist Pumps Collection", his first digital Non-fungible token (NFT) collection, launched on the DraftKings Marketplace in collaboration with Autograph.io. The collection featured 10,000 digital pictures ranging from $12 to $1,500, with 300 NFTs accompanied by his official digital signature, granting fans unique access to exclusive content and merchandise.
November 2021: Career Status Update
In November 2021, Tiger Woods indicated that his full-time career as a professional golfer was over, but he would continue to play "a few events per year".
August 2022: Formation of TGL Announced
In August 2022, Tiger Woods, along with Rory McIlroy, Mike McCarley, and the PGA Tour, announced the formation of TGL, a six-team virtual golfing league.
January 8, 2024: Woods Parts Ways with Nike
On January 8, 2024, Tiger Woods announced that he would be parting ways with Nike after 27 years, ending one of the most lucrative endorsements any athlete has had.
February 12, 2024: Launch of Sun Day Red Apparel Line
On February 12, 2024, Tiger Woods partnered with TaylorMade to launch his golf apparel line, "Sun Day Red", featuring his signature red shirt.
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