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 a highly accomplished and famous American professional golfer. Tied for the most PGA Tour wins and second in major championships, he holds numerous records and is considered one of the greatest golfers ever. His achievements led to his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1994: Missing the Masters

In 2014, Tiger Woods missed the Masters for the first time since 1994 after undergoing back surgery.

1998: Tiger Woods's Lackluster Season

1998 was a lackluster year for Tiger Woods.

2003: Tiger Woods Did Not Win a Major

In 2003, Tiger Woods did not win a major golf championship.

September 2004: End of First Top Ranking Streak

In September 2004, Tiger Woods's reign as the top-ranked golfer ended after 264 consecutive weeks.

September 2004: Vijay Singh Overtakes Tiger Woods

In September 2004, Vijay Singh overtook Tiger Woods in the Official World Golf Rankings, ending Woods's record streak of 264 weeks at No. 1.

2004: Major-less year

In 2004, Tiger Woods failed to win a major.

2007: Tiger Woods Undergoes Second Laser Eye Surgery

In 2007, Tiger Woods underwent laser eye surgery for a second time due to deteriorating vision.

April 2008: Knee Surgery and U.S. Open Victory

In April 2008, Tiger Woods underwent knee surgery, causing him to miss two months of the tour. He then returned for the 2008 U.S. Open, where he won in a dramatic sudden-death victory. Following the victory, he announced he would miss the rest of the season due to more knee surgery.

November 2008: Groundbreaking of The Cliffs at High Carolina

In November 2008, groundbreaking occurred for The Cliffs at High Carolina course, but the project later suffered cash flow problems and suspended construction.

November 2009: Infidelity Scandal and Car Accident

In November 2009, the National Enquirer published a story claiming Tiger Woods had an extramarital affair, which was followed by a car accident near his Florida mansion. Woods collided with a fire hydrant, a tree, and hedges, receiving minor injuries and a ticket for careless driving.

December 2009: Tiger Woods Takes Hiatus From Golf

In December 2009, Tiger Woods took a self-imposed hiatus from professional golf to address marital issues.

December 2009: Sponsorships Re-evaluated

In December 2009, following Woods's admission of multiple infidelities, TAG Heuer dropped Woods from advertising and a study estimated shareholder losses between $5 billion and $12 billion.

2009: Infidelity Scandal

In 2009, Tiger Woods' infidelity scandal was a contributing factor to the problems encountered by his golf course design projects, alongside overly optimistic estimates of their value and declines in the global economy.

February 2010: Construction Status of Al Ruwaya Golf Course

As of February 2010, only seven holes had been completed on the Al Ruwaya Golf Course, the first course designed by Tiger Woods Design in Dubai.

February 2010: Suspension of Golf Digest Column

Beginning with the February 2010 issue, Golf Digest magazine suspended Tiger Woods' monthly column following his admission of infidelities.

February 19, 2010: Televised Statement and Apology

On February 19, 2010, Tiger Woods gave a televised statement in which he apologized for his actions and discussed his 45-day therapy program, which began at the end of December. He also stated he didn't know when he would be returning to golf.

May 2010: Hank Haney Resigned

In May 2010, Hank Haney resigned as Tiger Woods' coach under questionable circumstances.

October 2010: End of Second Top Ranking Streak

In October 2010, Tiger Woods's second long streak as the top-ranked golfer concluded after 281 consecutive weeks.

April 2011: Project Shelved Permanently

In April 2011, The New York Times reported that the Al Ruwaya Golf Course project in Dubai had been shelved permanently.

August 2011: End of TAG Heuer Deal

In August 2011, TAG Heuer officially ended their sponsorship deal with Tiger Woods when his contract expired, following a suspension of advertising in December 2009.

November 2011: Tiger Woods World Ranking Drops

In November 2011, Tiger Woods's world ranking fell to number 58.

2011: Ranking Decline, Injuries, and Caddie Change

In 2011, Tiger Woods's performance suffered, impacting his ranking. He missed summer stops on the PGA Tour due to leg injuries. He fired his caddie Steve Williams and eventually hired Joe LaCava. His ranking fell to a low of #58, but he later broke his winless streak at the Chevron World Challenge.

2013: Elbow Injury and Mixed Results

In 2013, Tiger Woods had a poor showing at the U.S. Open due to an elbow injury. He returned at the Open Championship, finishing tied for 6th. He won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational but did not win a major for the fifth full season.

March 2014: Injury at The Honda Classic

In March 2014, Tiger Woods sustained an injury during the final round of The Honda Classic and was unable to finish the tournament due to back pain.

May 2014: Tiger Woods Falls from Number One Ranking

In May 2014, Tiger Woods lost the number-one ranking again.

2014: Tiger Woods Undergoes Back Surgeries

Between 2014 and 2017, Tiger Woods underwent four back surgeries, impacting his career.

2014: Missing the Masters

In 2014, Tiger Woods missed the Masters due to a back problem.

2014: Fourth Back Surgery

In 2017, Tiger Woods underwent his fourth back surgery since 2014 to alleviate back and leg pain.

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: Tiger Woods Limited Tournament Play

After August 2015, Tiger Woods competed in only one tournament before January 2018.

September 16, 2015: Back Surgery

On September 16, 2015, Tiger Woods had back surgery.

March 2016: Missing the Masters Announcement

In late March 2016, Tiger Woods announced that he would miss the Masters while recovering from back surgery.

December 2016: Back Surgery

In December 2016, Tiger Woods underwent back surgery.

May 29, 2017: Arrest for DUI

On May 29, 2017, Tiger Woods was arrested near his home in Jupiter Island, Florida, for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after being found asleep in his car.

July 3, 2017: Completion of Intensive Program

On July 3, 2017, Tiger Woods tweeted that he had completed an out-of-state intensive program to tackle an unspecified issue.

August 9, 2017: Arraignment for DUI

On August 9, 2017, at his arraignment, Tiger Woods, through his attorney, submitted a not guilty plea for his DUI charge and agreed to participate in a first-time offender program.

October 27, 2017: Guilty Plea for Reckless Driving

On October 27, 2017, Tiger Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He received a year of probation, a $250 fine, 50 hours of community service, and regular drug tests, with restrictions on alcohol consumption.

2017: Continued Back Problems and Fourth Back Surgery

In 2017, Tiger Woods's back problems continued to hinder him. He missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, pulled out of a European Tour event, and announced he would not play in the 2017 Masters Tournament. He underwent his fourth back surgery and returned to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge.

January 2018: Tiger Woods' Ranking Drops

In January 2018, Tiger Woods dropped off the list of the world's top 1,000 golfers.

August 2019: Knee Surgery

In August 2019, Tiger Woods underwent knee surgery to repair minor cartilage damage.

2019: Sale of The Cliffs at High Carolina Site

In 2019 the 800-acre site of The Cliffs at High Carolina golf course was sold for $19.3 million after construction was suspended.

December 2020: Woods had microdiscectomy surgery

In December 2020, Woods underwent microdiscectomy surgery on his back for the fifth time. The surgery aimed to remove a pressurized disc fragment causing pain during the PNC Championship.

February 23, 2021: Tiger Woods Involved in Car Accident

On February 23, 2021, Tiger Woods was hospitalized in serious condition after a single-car collision, undergoing emergency surgery for compound fractures in his right leg and a shattered ankle.

November 2021: Tiger Woods Discusses Career After Accident

In November 2021, in an interview with Golf Digest, Tiger Woods indicated that his full-time career as a professional golfer was over but that he would continue to play a few events per year.

2021: Woods's Motor Vehicle Crash

In 2021, Woods was involved in a motor vehicle crash.

2023: Herman Filed Suit Against Woods

In early 2023, Erica Herman filed suit against Tiger Woods, alleging a violation of the Speak Out Act in relation to a non-disclosure agreement and claiming she was owed $30 million.