Tiger Woods, is without doubt the greatest golfer on the planet. Tiger
is also the most recognized sports personality on the planet.
Welcome to the first of our golf legends pages. We had
to start with the greatest golfer on the planet, Tiger Woods. But is he
the greatest golfer to have played the game of golf?
To be universally recognized as the greatest golfer who
ever lived he would have to emulate Jack Nicklaus's amazing record of
18 Major victories. He is well on the way to achieving this feat, and
has already broken every other record along the way.
From an early age Tiger was destined to become a golfing
great. As early as six months old he was mimicking he's father Earl
Woods golf swing, and by the age of three he had a score of 48 for nine
holes!
Tigers father Earl was a crucial influence on Tiger, who
gave he's son the nickname Tiger after a close military friend of the
same name.
As well as breaking records as a pro, Tiger broke plenty
of records as an amateur, becoming the youngest ever winner of the US
Junior Championships at just 15 years old. Tiger went on to win 10
collegiate events and earned a place in the 1995 Walker Cup. After
winning he's third consecutive US Amateur title in 1996 it was clear
Tiger Woods was ready for the pro ranks.
In August 1996 with just seven events left, Tiger won
twice and finished in the top 10 three times placing him 25th on the
money list, this still remains one of he's finest achievements.
Amongst all the glories Tiger Woods has achieved, he's
best season to date has to be 2000. The first of he's three majors came
at Pebble Beach in the US Open. In the toughest of conditions Tiger
finished on 12 under par with a flawless display of shot making. No
other player managed to break into red figures! Tiger's 15 stroke
winning margin was yet another record smashed, the previous of 13 set
by old Tom Morris 138 years earlier.
Tiger continued in this rich vane of form in 2000
winning the two remaining Majors and becoming the youngest player to
win each of the big four. Then in 2001 taking the US Masters, Tiger
became the only golfer ever to hold all four Majors at the same time!
Tigers form dipped in 2003 and 2004 having deposed with
he's coach Butch Harmon, and Vijay Singh duly took over the top spot.
At the start of 2004 Woods partnered up with swing-guru
Hank Haney. Since then Tiger Woods has returned to he's superior best,
winning The Masters and The Open in 2005 and then going on to win The
Open Championship and The PGA in 2006, The PGA in 2007 and The US Open
in 2008.
At the time of writing Tiger has just won The 2009 FedEx
cup, with prize money worth $10,000,000!!
Tiger Woods has won 14 Majors, so should emulate Jack
Nicklaus's 18 to secure he's mantle of the greatest golfer who ever
lived.
Tiger Woods Achievements:
14 Majors, US Masters 1997, PGA Championships 1999, The
US Open, The Open Championship, The PGA Championship 2000, The Masters
2001, The Masters, The US Open 2002, The Masters, The Open Championship
2005, The Open Championship, The PGA Championship 2006, The
PGA Championship 2007, The US Open 2008.
Ryder Cup Record: Member of 4 US teams, (1997, 1999,
2002' 2004). Played 20, won 7, lost 11, halved 2.
