Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tiger Woods
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Tiger Woods made an impact.
Tiger Woods is a highly decorated American professional golfer, tied for the lead in PGA Tour wins and second in major championships. Celebrated as one of golf's all-time greats and a prominent athlete, he holds numerous records and is a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee.
1988: Junior World Championships Win
In 1988, Tiger Woods continued his success by winning another Junior World Championship, marking one of four consecutive wins in the competition.
1991: Junior World Championships Win
In 1991, Tiger Woods secured his fourth consecutive win at the Junior World Championships, solidifying his reputation as a top junior golfer.
1992: Defends Title at U.S. Junior Amateur Championship
In 1992, Tiger Woods defended his title at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, becoming the tournament's first two-time winner, marking another milestone in his amateur career.
1993: Begins Working with Butch Harmon
In mid-1993, while still an amateur, Tiger Woods began working with leading swing coach Butch Harmon.
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, adding another achievement to his amateur career.
1995: Participates in Walker Cup
In 1995, Tiger Woods was a member of the American team at the Walker Cup, an amateur golf competition.
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: Establishment of TGR Foundation
In 1996, Tiger Woods and his father Earl established the TGR Foundation, originally known as the Tiger Woods Foundation, with the primary goal of promoting golf among inner-city children.
1996: Turns Professional
In 1996, after an outstanding amateur career, Tiger Woods turned professional at the age of 20, setting the stage for his dominance in the sport.
1996: Wins NCAA Individual Golf Championship
In 1996, at age 20, Tiger Woods won the NCAA individual golf championship and became the first golfer to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles, solidifying his amateur legacy.
1996: Woods signs endorsement deals
Shortly after his 21st birthday in 1996, Tiger Woods signed endorsement deals with companies including General Motors, Titleist, General Mills, American Express, Accenture, and Nike.
April 13, 1997: Wins the Masters
On April 13, 1997, Tiger Woods won his first major, the Masters, in record-breaking fashion, becoming the tournament's youngest winner at age 21.
April 1997: Wins the 1997 Masters
In April 1997, Tiger Woods won his first major, the 1997 Masters, by 12 strokes in a record-breaking performance, further cementing his status as a rising star in the world of golf.
1997: Redevelopment of Full Swing
From mid-1997, Butch Harmon and Tiger Woods fashioned a major redevelopment of Woods's full swing, achieving greater consistency, better distance control, and better kinesiology.
1998: Lackluster Season
1998 was a lackluster season for Tiger Woods. In that year he did not perform to the best of his abilities.
March 1999: Dismissal of Fluff Cowan
In March 1999, Tiger Woods dismissed his caddie, Fluff Cowan, who had served since the start of his professional career, and replaced him with Steve Williams.
August 1999: Becomes Top-Ranked Golfer
In August 1999, Tiger Woods became the top-ranked golfer in the world, starting a streak that would last for 264 consecutive weeks.
1999: Wins PGA Championship
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.
1999: Participates in Ryder Cup
In 1999, Tiger Woods was part of the American winning team for the Ryder Cup, contributing to the team's victory in this prestigious international golf competition.
1999: Swing Changes Pay Off
In 1999, changes to Tiger Woods's swing began to pay off.
2000: Woods wins 100th tour start
In 2000, Tiger Woods also won golf tournaments in his 100th tour starts.
2000: Woods signs contract extension with Nike
In 2000, Tiger Woods signed a 5-year, $105 million contract extension with Nike, becoming the largest endorsement package signed by a professional athlete at that time.
2000: Woods wins the Career Grand Slam
Tiger Woods is one of six players to have won all four major championships in his career, known as the Career Grand Slam, and was the youngest to do so in 2000.
2001: Wins the Masters
In 2001, Tiger Woods won the Masters, becoming the only player to win four consecutive major professional golf titles, an achievement known as the "Tiger Slam".
2001: Woods wins all four major championships consecutively
Tiger Woods is the only player to have consecutively won all four major championships open to professionals, accomplishing the feat in the 2000–2001 seasons.
2002: Dominates the Tour
Following a stellar 2001, Tiger Woods continued to dominate the tour in 2002, maintaining his position as the top golfer in the world.
2002: Woods involved in launch of Buick Rendezvous SUV
In 2002, Tiger Woods was involved in every aspect of the launch of Buick's Rendezvous SUV, contributing to over 130,000 vehicles sold in 2002 and 2003.
2003: Tiger's slump in 2003
During his slump in 2003, the scores of highly skilled golfers are nearly one stroke higher when playing against Woods.
2003: Hank Haney Becomes Coach
In 2003, Hank Haney became Tiger Woods's coach.
2003: No Major Win
In 2003, Tiger Woods did not win a major championship, marking a slump in his otherwise dominant career.
2003: Buick Rendezvous sales success
In 2003, more than 130,000 Buick Rendezvous vehicles were sold thanks to Tiger Woods' endorsement.
February 2004: Buick renews Woods's endorsement contract
In February 2004, Buick renewed Tiger Woods's endorsement contract for another five years, in a deal reportedly worth $40 million.
March 2004: Coached by Hank Haney
In March 2004, Tiger Woods began being coached by Hank Haney, who worked on flattening his swing plane.
2004: Upgrades Driver Technology
During 2004, Tiger Woods upgraded his driver technology to a larger clubhead and graphite shaft, making him one of the tour's longest players off the tee once again.
April 2005: Release of TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch
In April 2005, Tiger Woods collaborated with TAG Heuer to release the world's first professional golf watch, featuring a lightweight titanium construction and high shock resistance.
November 2006: Announces Tiger Woods Design
In November 2006, Tiger Woods announced his intention to begin designing golf courses around the world through a new company, Tiger Woods Design.
2006: Woods wins 200th tour start
In 2006, Tiger Woods also won golf tournaments in his 200th tour starts.
2006: Dominant start to the year, wins and family tragedy
In 2006, Tiger Woods started the year dominantly by winning his first two PGA tournaments. In May 2006, following the death of his father, Woods took time off from the tour and returned at the U.S. Open but missed the cut. He quickly regained form, winning six consecutive tour events and finishing the year with 54 total wins, including 12 majors.
2006: Opening of Tiger Woods Learning Center
In 2006, the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a $50-million, 35,000-square-foot facility in Anaheim, California, opened to provide college-access programs for underserved youth.
February 2007: Woods becomes ambassador for Gillette Champions
In February 2007, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Thierry Henry became ambassadors for the "Gillette Champions" marketing campaign.
August 2007: Announces 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.
October 2007: Gatorade announces Tiger Woods sports drink
In October 2007, Gatorade announced that Tiger Woods would have his own brand of sports drink starting in March 2008, called "Gatorade Tiger."
2007: Continued Excellence
In 2007, Tiger Woods continued to perform exceptionally well on the tour.
March 2008: Launch of Gatorade Tiger
In March 2008, Gatorade Tiger, the sports drink brand associated with Tiger Woods, was launched.
April 2008: Knee Surgery and U.S. Open Victory
In April 2008, Tiger Woods underwent knee surgery and missed two months of the tour. He returned for the 2008 U.S. Open and won a dramatic sudden-death victory over Rocco Mediate, followed by an 18-hole playoff. Two days later, Woods announced that he would miss the rest of the season due to further knee surgery.
October 2008: Announces Punta Brava Course
In October 2008, a third golf course in Punta Brava, Mexico, was announced but incurred delays due to issues with permits and an environmental impact study.
November 2008: Groundbreaking at The Cliffs
In November 2008, after a groundbreaking, The Cliffs at High Carolina project suffered cash flow problems and suspended construction.
January 2009: Speech at Obama Inaugural Celebration
In January 2009, Tiger Woods delivered a speech commemorating the military at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.
April 2009: Visit to the White House
In April 2009, Tiger Woods visited the White House while promoting the AT&T National golf tournament he hosts.
September 2009: BMW Championship
In September 2009, Tiger Woods secured his victory at the BMW Championship.
2009: Last WGC Title Before 2013
Before winning the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March 2013, Tiger Woods had not won a WGC title since 2009.
2009: HSBC Champions become a WGC event in 2009
HSBC Champions become a WGC event in 2009
2009: Comeback and Marital Infidelity
In 2009, Tiger Woods had a highly anticipated return to golf and performed well, including a strong showing at the 2009 Presidents Cup. However, he failed to win a major, the first time since 2004. At the end of 2009, his marital infidelities became public, and he announced an indefinite break from competitive golf in December.
2009: Gatorade discontinues Gatorade Tiger
In early fall 2009, Gatorade decided to discontinue the "Gatorade Tiger" drink due to weak sales.
2009: PGA Championship Second Place
Tiger Woods finished second at the 2009 PGA Championship.
February 2010: Al Ruwaya Golf Course Status
As of February 2010, only seven holes of the Al Ruwaya Golf Course had been completed.
April 2010: Returns to Professional Golf
In early April 2010, Tiger Woods returned to professional golf after taking a hiatus to resolve marital issues, marking a new chapter in his career.
May 2010: Hank Haney Resigns
In May 2010, Hank Haney resigned under questionable circumstances and was replaced by Sean Foley as Tiger Woods's coach.
October 2010: Loses Top World Ranking Again
In October 2010, Tiger Woods's second long run as the top-ranked golfer in the world ended, marking a shift in the professional golf landscape.
2010: Return to Competition, Coaching Changes, and Winless Season
In 2010, Tiger Woods returned to competition at the Masters, finishing tied for fourth. He had poor performances at subsequent events, leading to Hank Haney's resignation as his coach. Woods hired Sean Foley as Haney's replacement. He failed to win a single event in 2010, though he finished the season ranked No. 2 in the world.
June 2011: Dismissal of Steve Williams
In June 2011, Tiger Woods dismissed Steve Williams after he caddied for Adam Scott in the U.S. Open, and replaced him with friend Bryon Bell on an interim basis.
November 2011: Falls to Number 58 in World Rankings
In November 2011, Tiger Woods experienced a significant drop in the world rankings, falling to number 58, reflecting the challenges he faced during that period.
2011: Suffering Performance, Caddie Change, and Victory at Chevron World Challenge
In 2011, Tiger Woods's performance continued to decline, impacting his ranking. He missed several PGA Tour stops due to leg injuries and fired his longtime caddie, Steve Williams. He ended his winless streak with a victory at December's Chevron World Challenge.
October 2012: Woods signs 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 Technique Revision and PGA Tour Wins
In 2012, Tiger Woods revised his putting technique after struggling in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He tied for second at The Honda Classic. Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his first win on the PGA Tour since the BMW Championship in September 2009. He secured his 73rd PGA Tour win at the Memorial Tournament in June and surpassed Jack Nicklaus with a win at the AT&T National.
March 2013: Ascends to Number One Ranking Again
In March 2013, Tiger Woods once again ascended to the number-one ranking, demonstrating his resilience and determination to return to the top of the sport.
May 2013: Wins The Players Championship
In May 2013, Tiger Woods won The Players Championship, marking his second career win at the event and his fourth win of the 2013 season.
2013: Elbow Injury, Poor Showing at U.S. Open, and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Win
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 won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational for his 5th win of the season. However, he was not in contention at the PGA Championship, making 2013 his fifth full season without winning a major.
2013: Return to Dominance and Nike Ad
In 2013, Tiger Woods returned to dominating play, winning the Farmers Insurance Open in January and the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March. He also won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, tying a record for the event. This moved him back to the top of the world rankings, and Nike launched an ad with the tagline "winning takes care of everything".
May 2014: Loses Number One Ranking
In May 2014, Tiger Woods's time at the top of the world rankings came to an end, marking a period of challenges and setbacks in his career.
August 25, 2014: Parting Ways with Swing Coach Sean Foley
On August 25, 2014, Tiger Woods and his swing coach Sean Foley ended their partnership. During their four years together, Woods won eight times but did not win any majors.
August 2015: Last Tournament Before Injury
August 2015 marks the last tournament Tiger Woods competed in before a series of injuries and surgeries sidelined him, impacting his career trajectory.
August 2015: Showing at the Wyndham Championship
In August 2015, Tiger Woods played well at the Wyndham Championship, finishing the tournament at 13-under and tied for 10th place.
2015: Results not in chronological order before 2015
Prior to 2015, Tiger Woods' results were not in chronological order.
August 2016: Woods to seek new golf equipment partner
In August 2016, Tiger Woods announced that he would be seeking a new golf equipment partner after the news of Nike's exit from the equipment industry.
December 2016: Golf with President Trump
In December 2016, Tiger Woods played golf with President Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
January 25, 2017: Woods signs club deal with TaylorMade
On January 25, 2017, it was announced that Tiger Woods would be signing a new club deal with TaylorMade, adding the 2016 M2 driver and 2017 M1 fairway woods to his equipment.
March 2017: Publishes '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.
November 2017: Golf with President Trump again
In November 2017, Tiger Woods played golf with President Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
January 2018: Returns to Regular Competition
In January 2018, Tiger Woods returned to regular competition after a period of absence due to injuries, signaling a comeback and renewed hope for his career.
September 2018: Wins Tour Championship
In September 2018, Tiger Woods won the Tour Championship, marking his first tournament win in five years and a significant milestone in his comeback journey.
September 23, 2018: Tour Championship Win
On September 23, 2018, Tiger Woods won the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club for the second time, marking his 80th PGA Tour career win.
April 14, 2019: Woods wins the Masters
On April 14, 2019, Tiger Woods won the Masters Tournament, marking his first major championship win in eleven years and his 15th major overall. He finished 13 under par, winning by one stroke. At 43, he became the second oldest golfer to win the Masters.
May 2019: Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
In May 2019, Tiger Woods was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump, recognizing his contributions and achievements in golf.
October 2019: Announces Memoir 'Back'
In October 2019, Tiger Woods announced he would be writing a memoir book titled 'Back'.
2019: Wins the Masters
In 2019, Tiger Woods won the Masters, his first major in 11 years, marking an incredible comeback and a defining moment in his career.
2019: Sale of Cliffs at High Carolina Site
In 2019, the 800-acre site of The Cliffs at High Carolina was sold for $19.3 million.
2020: Results not in chronological order
In 2020, Tiger Woods' results were not in chronological order.
September 28, 2021: Launches NFT Collection
On September 28, 2021, Tiger Woods's "Iconic Fist Pumps Collection", his first digital non-fungible token (NFT) collection, launched on the DraftKings Marketplace in collaboration with Autograph.io.
November 2021: Indicates Career Change
In November 2021, Tiger Woods indicated that his full-time career as a professional golfer was likely over, although he planned to continue playing "a few events per year", signaling a shift in his career.
August 2022: Formation of TGL
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.
2022: Woods returns at the 2022 Masters Tournament
In 2022, Tiger Woods returned to professional play at the Masters Tournament, following his 2021 motor vehicle crash. He made the cut, finishing in 47th place.
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, dubbed "Sun Day Red", which featured his signature red shirt.
2024: Listing of Portion of Cliffs at High Carolina Site
In 2024, 550 acres of the Cliffs at High Carolina were listed for about $19.3 million, with development plans still on file, but no evidence of Tiger Woods's involvement has been found.
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