Childhood and Education Journey of Tiger Woods in Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Tiger Woods, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
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.
1968: Earl Woods Meets Kultida
In 1968, Earl Woods met Kultida Punsawad in Thailand while on tour of duty.
December 30, 1975: Tiger Woods Born
On December 30, 1975, Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods was born in Cypress, California. He is an American professional golfer, widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time.
1978: Tiger Woods on The Mike Douglas Show
In 1978, Tiger Woods appeared on The Mike Douglas Show, putting against comedian Bob Hope.
1988: Tiger Woods Wins Junior World Championships
In 1988, Tiger Woods won one of four consecutive Junior World Championships.
1989: Tiger Woods Plays in the Big I
In 1989, at age 13, Tiger Woods played in his first major national junior tournament, the Big I, and was paired with John Daly in the final round.
1991: Tiger Woods Wins Junior World Championships
In 1991, Tiger Woods completed a run of four consecutive Junior World Championships.
1991: Tiger Woods Named Southern California Amateur Player of the Year
In 1991, Tiger Woods was named Southern California Amateur Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and Golf Digest Junior Amateur Player of the Year.
1992: Tiger Woods Defends 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. He also competed in his first PGA Tour event, the Nissan Los Angeles Open, and was named Golf Digest Amateur Player of the Year, Golf World Player of the Year, and Golfweek National Amateur of the Year.
1994: Tiger Woods Graduates High School
In 1994, Tiger Woods graduated from Western High School and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed."
1994: Tiger Woods Enrolls at Stanford University
In the fall of 1994, Tiger Woods enrolled at Stanford University on a golf scholarship.
1995: Tiger Woods Played in Walker Cup
In 1995, Tiger Woods participated in the Walker Cup.
1995: Tiger Woods Defends U.S. Amateur Title
In 1995, Tiger Woods successfully defended his U.S. Amateur title and received several accolades.
August 1996: Tiger Woods Turns Professional
In August 1996, Tiger Woods turned professional and signed lucrative advertising deals with Nike, Inc. and Titleist.
1996: Earnings from 1996 to 2007
According to Golf Digest, Woods earned $769,440,709 from 1996 to 2007.
1996: Establishment of the TGR Foundation
In 1996, Tiger Woods and his father Earl established the TGR Foundation, originally named the Tiger Woods Foundation, with the aim of promoting golf among inner-city children.
1996: Woods Signed Endorsement Deals
Shortly after his 21st birthday in 1996, Woods signed endorsement deals with numerous companies, including General Motors, Titleist, General Mills, American Express, Accenture, and Nike.
1996: Woods Joins PGA Tour
When Woods first joined the PGA Tour in 1996, his long drives had a large impact on the world of golf.
1997: Civil Case Initiated by Woods and Palmer
In 1997, Woods and Arnold Palmer initiated a civil case against Bruce Matthews (owner of Gotta Have It Golf, Inc.) to stop the unauthorized sale of their images and alleged signatures in the memorabilia market. Matthews and associated parties counterclaimed that Woods and his company, ETW Corporation, committed several acts including breach of contract.
1999: Tiger Woods Undergoes Laser Eye Surgery
In 1999, Tiger Woods underwent successful laser eye surgery to correct his severe myopia.
2000: Beliefs in Buddhism
In 2000, Tiger Woods stated that he believes in Buddhism, and he has attributed his deviations and infidelity to losing track of Buddhism.
2000: Nike Contract Extension
In 2000, 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. Woods's endorsement significantly contributed to Nike Golf becoming a leading golf apparel company.
2001: Meeting Elin Nordegren
In 2001, Tiger Woods met Elin Nordegren, who was working as an au pair for Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, during The Open Championship.
2002: ESPN Details Tiger Woods's Ethnicity
In 2002, ESPN detailed Tiger Woods's ethnic background as one-quarter Thai, one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Caucasian, one-eighth African American, and one-eighth Native American.
2002: Woods Involved in Buick Rendezvous Launch
In 2002, Woods was involved in every aspect of the launch of Buick's Rendezvous SUV.
November 2003: Engagement to Elin Nordegren
In November 2003, Tiger Woods became engaged to Elin Nordegren, a Swedish former model.
2003: Slump
During his well-publicized slump in 2003, the scores of highly skilled golfers were nearly one stroke higher when playing against Woods.
2003: Mickelson's Joke about Equipment
In 2003, Phil Mickelson made a joke about Woods using "inferior equipment", which did not sit well with Nike, Titleist, or Woods.
2003: Buick Rendezvous SUV sales
In 2003, more than 130,000 Buick Rendezvous vehicles were sold.
February 2004: Buick Endorsement Contract Renewal
In February 2004, Buick renewed Woods's endorsement contract for another five years, reportedly worth $40 million.
2004: Woods Upgrades Driver Technology
During 2004, Woods finally upgraded his driver technology to a larger clubhead and graphite shaft, again making him one of the tour's longest players off the tee.
May 3, 2006: Death of Earl Woods
On May 3, 2006, Earl Woods, Tiger Woods's father, passed away.
2006: Opening of the Tiger Woods Learning Center
In 2006, the Tiger Woods Learning Center (TWLC) opened in Anaheim, California. The 35,000-square-foot facility provides college-access programs for underserved youth.
February 2007: Gillette Champions Ambassador
In February 2007, Woods, Roger Federer, and Thierry Henry became ambassadors for the "Gillette Champions" marketing campaign.
October 2007: Gatorade Tiger Announcement
In October 2007, Gatorade announced that Woods would have his own brand of sports drink starting in March 2008.
2007: Earnings from 1996 to 2007
According to Golf Digest, Woods earned $769,440,709 from 1996 to 2007.
2007: Birth of Daughter Sam Alexis Woods
In 2007, Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren's first child, a daughter named Sam Alexis Woods, was born. The name Sam was chosen because it was what Tiger's father had always called him.
2007: Tiger Woods Undergoes Second Laser Eye Surgery
In 2007, Tiger Woods underwent laser eye surgery for a second time due to deteriorating vision.
March 2008: Launch of Gatorade Tiger
In March 2008, Woods's branded sports drink, Gatorade Tiger, was launched.
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 to promote the AT&T National golf tournament he hosts.
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.
2009: Billion Dollar Earnings
In 2009, Forbes confirmed that Woods was indeed the world's first professional athlete to earn over a billion dollars in his career, after accounting for the $10 million bonus Woods received for the FedEx Cup title. The same year, Forbes estimated his net worth to be $600 million, making him the second richest person of color in the United States.
2009: Birth of Son Charlie Axel Woods
In 2009, Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren's son, Charlie Axel Woods, was born.
2009: Last Block Party Concert Event
In 2009, the last Block Party concert event, which benefitted the TGR Foundation, was held in Anaheim.
2009: Discontinuation of Gatorade Tiger
In early fall 2009, the company decided to discontinue the Gatorade Tiger drink due to weak sales.
April 2010: Tiger Woods Returns to Golf
In early April 2010, Tiger Woods returned to professional golf after a hiatus.
August 23, 2010: Divorce from Elin Nordegren
On August 23, 2010, Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren divorced after six years of marriage.
December 2010: TGR Foundation Employment Numbers
As of December 2010, the TGR Foundation employed approximately 55 people.
2010: Predicted Billion Dollar Earnings
Golf Digest predicted that Woods would pass a billion dollars in earnings by 2010.
October 2011: First Tiger Woods Invitational
In October 2011, the TGR Foundation hosted the first Tiger Woods Invitational at Pebble Beach.
October 2012: Endorsement Deal with Fuse Science
In October 2012, Woods signed an exclusive endorsement deal with Fuse Science, Inc, a sports nutrition firm.
2012: Cheyenne Woods Turns Professional
In 2012, Tiger Woods's niece, Cheyenne Woods, turned professional and made her debut in the LPGA Championship.
March 18, 2013: Relationship with Lindsey Vonn Announced
On March 18, 2013, Tiger Woods announced that he and Olympic gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn were dating.
2013: Tiger Woods Moved Out of California
In 2013, Tiger Woods stated that he moved out of California due to the state's high tax rate.
March 12, 2014: Florida Jury Finds in Favor of Gotta Have It
On March 12, 2014, a Florida jury found in favor of Gotta Have It on its breach of contract and other related claims, rejected ETW's counterclaims, and awarded Gotta Have It $668,346 in damages.
2014: Tiger Woods Undergoes Back Surgeries
Between 2014 and 2017, Tiger Woods underwent four back surgeries, impacting his career.
May 2015: Split from Lindsey Vonn
In May 2015, Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn ended their relationship.
2015: Woods Ranked Ninth in Forbes List
In 2015, Woods ranked ninth in Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes.
August 2016: Woods Announces Search for New Golf Equipment Partner
In August 2016, Woods announced that he would be seeking a new golf equipment partner following Nike's exit from the equipment industry.
November 2016: Rumored Relationship with Kristin Smith
From November 2016, Tiger Woods was rumored to be in a relationship with stylist Kristin Smith.
December 2016: Golf Outing 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: New Club Deal with TaylorMade
On January 25, 2017, it was announced that Woods would be signing a new club deal with TaylorMade.
August 2017: End of Rumored Relationship with Kristin Smith
In August 2017, Tiger Woods' rumored relationship with stylist Kristin Smith ended.
November 2017: Second Golf Outing with President Trump
In November 2017, Tiger Woods played golf for a second time with President Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
2017: Highest-Paid Golfer in the World
As of 2017, Woods was considered to be the highest-paid golfer in the world.
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.
2021: Woods's Motor Vehicle Crash
In 2021, Woods was involved in a motor vehicle crash.
August 2022: Formation of TGL
In August 2022, Woods, along with Rory McIlroy, Mike McCarley, and the PGA Tour, announced the formation of TGL, a six-team virtual golfing league.
2022: Woods Net Worth over One Billion Dollars
In 2022, Woods was the first golfer to have a net worth over one billion dollars, making him one of the richest celebrities.
2022: End of Relationship with Erica Herman
In late 2022, Tiger Woods' relationship with restaurant manager Erica Herman ended.
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.
January 8, 2024: Woods Parts Ways with Nike
On January 8, 2024, 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 4, 2025: Death of Kultida Woods
On February 4, 2025, Kultida Woods, Tiger Woods's mother, passed away.
March 23, 2025: Relationship with Vanessa Trump Confirmed
On March 23, 2025, Tiger Woods confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump.
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