Woods, Tiger (1976- )

US golfer. In 1994 he became the youngest player, at the age of 18, to win the US Amateur Championship, the first of an unprecedented three successive titles. He turned professional in 1996, immediately becoming one of the wealthiest people in US sport as a result of endorsement deals worth US$64 million. In his first six months as a professional he won four tournaments on the US PGA circuit, and in 1997 he won the Masters. In February 2000, he became the first player to win six successive tournaments on the US PGA Tour since Ben Hogan in 1948. With his victory at the Masters in 2001, he became the first professional golfer to hold all four major titles at the same time.

Career highlights

British Open

US Open

US PGA Championship

Masters

Ryder Cup

US Amateur

Tournament wins

Woods won the US Junior Championship 1991-93. In 1999 he won eight tournaments worldwide, including four in a row between October and November. In June 2000 his 15-stroke winning margin at the US Open was the largest in the 140-year history of major championship golf. The following month he completed his career Grand Slam, winning the British Open Championship at St Andrews, Scotland, by 8 shots. He achieved this feat at age 24, two years younger than the previous record-holder Jack Nicklaus.