Hotch Potch

Biography for Tiger Woods

Date of Birth : 30 December 1975, Cypress, California, USA

Birth Name : Eldrick Tont Woods

Nickname : Mr. T Righty

Height :6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

At age 21, Tiger Woods became the youngest Masters champ and the first golfer since Jerry Pate in 1976 to win in the first major he played. In 1997, Woods took the lead at the Augusta golf classic and then put on a golf clinic never seen before. He fired a 3-under-par 69 and broke the tournament 72-hole record with an unbelievable 18-under 270. The 12-stroke margin of victory was the largest in Masters history. Woods was chosen as the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and ESPY Male Athlete of the Year in 1997. He was also one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in history, winning six USGA national championships, an NCAA title during his two years at Stanford University, and an unprecedented three consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships. He finished first on the PGA Tour five times in 1999. More importantly, Woods opened wide a door of society in becoming the first African American, as well as the first Asian American, to win a major. Woods was granted dual citizenship by the Thai government (his mother, Kultida, is Thai) in 1997 prior to playing in the Asian Honda Classic. Woods has captured the hearts and imaginations of even non-golf fans around the world. Affable and good looking, he became an international star and a prime endorser of golfing equipment and apparel. Born Eldrick Woods on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, his distinctive nickname "Tiger" came from his father Earl's Green Beret army past. "Tiger" had been the moniker of a South Vietnamese officer who saved Earl's life on several occasions. As a child, Woods was one of junior golf's most accomplished players. He putted against Bob Hope on "The Mike Douglas Show" (1961) at the improbable age of 2, shot 48 for nine holes at age 3, and was featured in "Golf Digest" at age 5. Woods won several major youth titles in southern California. He won three straight U.S. Amateur titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996 after winning three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He turned professional in the summer of 1996, and the game of golf hasn't been the same since. Sense of humor intact, Woods once observed, "Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps".

Spouse

Trivia

Attended Stanford University but left before graduating in order to pursue his golfing career.

Nicknamed Tiger after a Vietnamese soldier and friend of his father, Vuong Dang Phong, to whom his father had also given that nickname.

Father, Earl Woods, was a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. He died on May 3, 2006, age 74. Mother, Kultida, is a native of Thailand. Earl was half black, one-quarter American Indian and one-quarter Chinese. Kultida is half Thai, one-quarter Chinese and one-quarter white.

Named Golf Digest Player of the Year (1991 and 1992), Golf World Player of the Year (1992 and 1993), Golfweek National Amateur of the Year (1992), Golf World Man of the Year (1994), and Fred Haskins and Jack Nicklaus College Player of the Year awards (1996.)

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1996 and 2000, making him the first athlete to win the award twice.

6/15/97: Became the youngest #1 golfer ever at the age of 21 years and 24 weeks in his 42nd week as a professional.

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2006.

An only child, although Earl had children from a previous marriage.

Tiger Woods Foundation promotes parental responsibility and involvement in the lives of children.

1999: Underwent laser eye surgery and now endorses TLC Laser Eye Centers.

His nickname on the Stanford golf team was Urkel.

His mother made the Tiger club cover in his bag with the words "Love from Mom" in Thai stitched on it.

Wears a red shirt on the final day of every tournament because his mother feels that it is a "power color" for him.

Has won at least one World Golf Championships event every year since 1999 (54% winning rate).

2000: Signed a five-year, $100-million endorsement contract with Nike. As of 5/03 it remains the largest endorsement deal ever signed by an athlete.

Has his own line of golf watches.

Won the American Express Championship six times between 1999 and 2007.

Shares a birthday with NBA superstar LeBron James.

Enjoys working out, boating, water sports, fishing and car racing.

October 2004: Married long-time girlfriend, Swedish model Elin Nordegren.

The popular Nike TV commercial with him doing the "ball trick" was basically his creation. It was a routine Tiger would do at times when he was hitting balls or practicing just to goof off. Nike took the idea and turned it into an advertisement. No special effects or computer work was used, Tiger did the trick completely on his own, all in one take.

Next-door neighbor in Florida of Mark O'Mera, another professional golfer and a fellow Masters champion like Woods. Tiger and Mark have a close friendship. Woods also has a close friendship with golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, a man who has dubbed Woods "the greatest golfer of all time.".

Went to the same high school in Santa Monica, CA, as Carson Daly. They both were members of the golf team there. Tiger has made guest appearances on Daly's "Total Request Live" (1998) on MTV and "Last Call with Carson Daly" (2002) on NBC.

7/17/05: "Tiger Tames Augusta National" (becoming the first black winner of the Masters golf tournament on 13 April 1997) was ranked #2 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Most Awesome Sports Moments (of the last 15 years)".

2006: Was #5 on the annual Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 list.

July 2006: At the age of 30, he won his third British Open, his 11th Major Championship. The win moved him to second place on the all-time major championship list (tied with Walter Hagen) and seven behind Jack Nicklaus, who has the record at 18.

Good friends with fellow golfer Darren Clarke.

Tiger and his wife Elin Nordegren are expecting their first child in the summer of 2007.

Has two half-brothers, Earl Jr. and Kevin, and a half-sister, Royce.

January 2006: Purchased a $39-million property in Jupiter, FL, which became his primary residence.

Good friends with tennis superstar Roger Federer.

6/18/07: Tiger and Elin became the parents of a girl, Sam Alexis Woods, in Orlando, FL.

Good friends with New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

In 2006, he donated $9,500,000 to the Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D.Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund, and other Tiger Woods Foundation programs.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his 2006 earnings to be $100 million, largely the result of a lucrative advertising deal with Nike, Buick, and other brands.

In 2004, it was reported that he was worth an estimated $295 million.

Ranked #2 in the 2008 Forbes The Celebrity 100 list.

Announced that he and wife Elin, are expecting their second child in late winter. [September 2, 2008].

Son, Charlie Axel, born February 8, 2009.

Personal Quotes

I think the best thing is being able to play golf competitively for a living. Ever since I was a little boy, that's something I've always wanted to do, and now I get a chance to live out my dreams.

I've done it before. It won't be the last time. You're going to go years where you just don't win. That's okay, as long as you keep trying to improve.

I am pretty health-conscious, so when my girlfriend and/or I make dinner--no, I don't have a cook!--we choose the healthier options: lean meats, steamed veggies, fish, etc. Of course, there are always those cravings for the "bad foods" that I do give in to once in a while!

My body is a little bit sore from all of the practicing and playing and training, and your mind gets a little tired of it, too. It's nice to be able to recharge and come back fresh for the remainder of the year.

We have a lot of fun every year, and I really enjoy being part of junior golf and the development of these players.

I don't want to be the best black golfer, I want to be the best golfer, period.

Where Are They Now

(November 2003) Proposes to Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren.

(2004) (October 5) Amid armed security guards, married fiancée Elin Nordegren in a sunset ceremony at the Barbados resort Sandy Lane before approximately 200 family and friends.

(July 2006) Won his 11th Major Championship and third British Open.

Source : http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0971329/bio

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Tiger Woods Photo