Challenges in the Life of Tiger Woods in a Detailed Timeline
A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Tiger Woods's life and career.
Tiger Woods is an American professional golfer, considered one of the greatest of all time. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, second in men's major championships, and holds numerous golf records. Woods is an inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame and is one of the most famous athletes in modern history.
1989: First Major National Junior Tournament
In 1989, at age 13, Tiger Woods played in his first major national junior tournament, the Big I. He was paired with John Daly and lost by a single stroke.
1994: Missing the Masters
In March 2014, Tiger Woods announced that he would miss the Masters tournament for the first time since 1994, after undergoing back surgery.
2003: "Tiger-proofing" strategy
During Tiger Woods's slump in 2003-04, the scores of highly skilled golfers are nearly one stroke higher when playing against Woods. Many courses in the PGA Tour rotation have added yardage to their tees in an effort to reduce the advantage of long hitters like Woods, in a strategy that became known as "Tiger-proofing".
2003: Slump
In 2003, Tiger Woods's career hit a slump and he did not win a major.
2006: Successes and Loss
In 2006, Tiger Woods started dominantly, winning his first two PGA tournaments. Following his father's death in May, he took time off and later won six consecutive tour events, ending the year with 54 total wins that included 12 majors.
2007: Second Laser Eye Surgery
In 2007, Tiger Woods underwent laser eye surgery a second time due to deteriorating vision.
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 then returned for the 2008 U.S. Open, where he secured a dramatic victory after an 18-hole playoff, despite his knee injury. Two days later, he announced that he would miss the rest of the season for further knee surgery, revealing a more severe knee injury than initially reported.
December 2009: Hiatus from Golf
In December 2009, Tiger Woods took a self-imposed hiatus from professional golf to address marital issues.
December 2009: Sponsorship Deals Reassessed
In December 2009, following the scandal, several companies reassessed their sponsorships with Tiger Woods, with some ending or suspending their endorsement deals.
2009: Comeback and Marital Infidelity
In 2009, Tiger Woods made a highly anticipated return to golf, performing well, including at the 2009 Presidents Cup. He did not win a major, which was the first time since 2004 that he failed to do so. At the end of 2009, following media coverage of marital infidelities, he announced an indefinite break from competitive golf.
2009: Factors Attributed to Project Problems
In 2009, several factors were attributed to the problems encountered by golf course projects, including overly optimistic estimates, global economic declines, and the decreased marketability of Woods following his infidelity scandal.
February 2010: Televised Apology
In February 2010, Tiger Woods delivered a televised apology for his behavior, stating, "I was wrong and I was foolish." During this period, several companies ended their endorsement deals with Woods.
February 19, 2010: Woods Delivers Televised Statement
On February 19, 2010, Tiger Woods delivered a televised statement in which he apologized for his actions and discussed his 45-day therapy program.
2010: Return to Competition and Coaching Change
In 2010, Tiger Woods returned to competition at the Masters, tying for fourth. After poor showings and an injury withdrawal, his coach Hank Haney resigned in 2003. In August, Woods hired Sean Foley as his new coach. He failed to win any event during the season.
August 2011: TAG Heuer Ends Partnership
In August 2011, TAG Heuer ended its partnership with Tiger Woods when his contract expired.
November 2011: Fell to Number 58 in World Rankings
In November 2011, Tiger Woods fell to number 58 in the world rankings.
2011: Performance Decline and Caddie Change
In 2011, Tiger Woods's performance suffered, affecting his ranking. Despite a strong showing at the Masters, he missed several PGA Tour stops due to leg injuries. In July, he fired his caddie Steve Williams, replacing him with Bryon Bell temporarily before hiring Joe LaCava. His ranking fell to #58 before improving after a third-place finish at the Emirates Australian Open. He ended a winless streak at the Chevron World Challenge in December.
2013: Elbow Injury and Major Performance
In 2013, Tiger Woods had a poor showing at the U.S. Open due to an elbow injury. After a break, he returned at the Open Championship, finishing tied for 6th. He won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. At the PGA Championship, he was not in contention, marking his fifth full season without a major win.
March 2014: Injury at The Honda Classic
In March 2014, Tiger Woods sustained an injury during the final round of The Honda Classic, withdrawing from the tournament due to back pain. He also experienced pain during the WGC-Cadillac Championship and skipped the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
August 25, 2014: Parting Ways with Swing Coach Sean Foley
On August 25, 2014, Tiger Woods and his swing coach Sean Foley ended their four-year partnership. During this time, Woods secured eight wins but no major championships. Woods stated he had no immediate plans to find a new swing coach.
2014: Previous Back Surgeries
By April 2017, Tiger Woods had undergone his fourth back surgery since 2014.
2014: Missed Masters due to Back
Tiger Woods also missed the 2014 Masters due to a back problem.
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, unrelated to previous surgery. He announced a break from golf until his back healed.
August 2015: Injuries and Competition Hiatus
Due to injuries, August 2015 marked the start of a period where Tiger Woods competed in only one tournament until January 2018.
September 16, 2015: Back Surgery
On September 16, 2015, Tiger Woods underwent back surgery.
March 2016: Missing the Masters
In late March 2016, Tiger Woods announced that he would miss the Masters as he recovered from surgery.
December 2016: Another Back Surgery
Tiger Woods underwent back surgery in December 2016.
2017: Back Surgeries
Between 2014 and 2017, Tiger Woods underwent four back surgeries due to injuries.
2017: Back Problems and Masters Withdrawal
In 2017, Tiger Woods's back problems persisted. He missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open and withdrew from a European Tour event in Dubai. He announced he would not play in the 2017 Masters Tournament. Woods subsequently told friends, "I'm done".
August 2019: Knee Surgery
In August 2019, Tiger Woods announced that he underwent knee surgery to repair minor cartilage damage and had an arthroscopic procedure during the Tour Championship. He intended on playing in Japan in October.
2019: Sale of The Cliffs at High Carolina Site
In 2019, the 800-acre site of The Cliffs at High Carolina was sold for $19.3 million after the project faced cash flow problems and suspended construction.
December 2020: Microdiscectomy Surgery
In December 2020, Tiger Woods underwent microdiscectomy surgery on his back for the fifth time to remove a pressurized disc fragment that was pinching his nerve and causing him pain during the PNC Championship.
February 23, 2021: Car Accident and Hospitalization
On February 23, 2021, Tiger Woods was hospitalized after a single-car collision and underwent emergency surgery for compound fractures in his right leg and a shattered ankle.
2024: Listing of The Cliffs at High Carolina Site
In 2024, 550 acres of the site of The Cliffs at High Carolina were listed for about the same price as the 2019 sale.
March 2026: TGL Tournament and Health Issues
In March 2026, Tiger Woods competed in the TGL tournament as a member of the Jupiter Links team, which lost the championship match to the Los Angeles Golf Club. Following an arrest the same month, it was confirmed that Woods had physical mobility limitations and was using hydrocodone for pain management. He is also reportedly stepping away from his golf career to focus on his health.
April 2026: Driving Under the Influence Charge
In 2026, Tiger Woods was involved in another car crash and was charged with driving under the influence and causing property damage. As of April 2026, his net worth was estimated at US$1.5 billion by Forbes.
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