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Tiger Woods
EXEMPT STATUS: Winner, 1997 Masters Tournament (through 2007)
FULL NAME: Tiger Woods
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 180
BIRTHDATE: December 30, 1975
BIRTHPLACE: Cypress, CA
RESIDENCE: Orlando, FL
FAMILY: Single
EDUCATION: Stanford University
SPECIAL INTERESTS: Basketball, fishing, all sports
TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 1996
JOINED TOUR: 1996
PGA TOUR Victories
(34) 1996 Las Vegas Invitational, Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic. 1997 Mercedes Championships, Masters Tournament, GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic, Motorola Western Open. 1998 BellSouth Classic. 1999 Buick Invitational, Memorial Tournament, Motorola Western Open, PGA Championship, WGC NEC Invitational, National Car Rental Golf Classic/Disney, THE TOUR Championship, WGC American Express Championship. 2000 Mercedes Championships, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Bay Hill Invitational, Memorial Tournament, U.S. Open Championship, British Open Championship, PGA Championship, WGC-NEC Invitational, Bell Canadian Open. 2001 Bay Hill Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters Tournament, Memorial Tournament, WGC-NEC Invitational. 2002 Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires, Masters Tournament, U.S. Open Championship, Buick Open, WGC-American Express Championship.
2002 Season Highlights
Led the PGA TOUR in earnings and was named Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth in six years. Won five times...Became the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to capture the Masters Tournament and U.S. Open in the same season...Began season with T10 at Mercedes Championships...Second top-10 of season was T5 at Buick Invitational. Overcame second-round 77, his worst TOUR round since a 78 in the third round of the 1999 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, by firing 69-66 on the weekend to finish three strokes behind champion Jose Maria Olazabal...Finished as runner-up to Ernie Els at Genuity Championship in first tournament of the Florida Swing. Began final round eight strokes back and closed with 66 to finish two strokes back for his first runner-up finish since the 2000 TOUR Championship...Earned third consecutive victory at the Bay Hill Invitational, the first player to win three different TOUR events (The Memorial Tournament [1999-2001] and the WGC-NEC Invitational [1999-2001]) three straight times. Entered final round with a one-shot lead over Len Mattiace and carded a 3-under-par 69 to win by four over runner-up Michael Campbell. With 30th career PGA TOUR victory, surpassed Jack Nicklaus for most wins before the age of 30...Earned third Masters title, joining Jack Nicklaus (1965-66) and Nick Faldo (1989-90) as the only consecutive winners there. Only Nicklaus (six wins) and Arnold Palmer (four) have more Masters titles. Jimmy Demaret, Faldo, Gary Player and Sam Snead have also won three Masters. Tied with Retief Goosen at 11-under-par entering the final round, birdied two of the first three holes en route to a three-stroke victory over runner-up Goosen. Victory marked 23rd time in 25 PGA TOUR events in which he won holding a lead or a share of the lead after 54 holes, including a 7-0 mark in majors. Win was his 31st on TOUR...Earned his eighth major championship title with sixth wire-to-wire victory in U.S. Open history. Win was seventh in last 11 major championship appearances. Finished 3-under-par and won by three strokes over runner-up Phil Mickelson, the only other player to finish at par or better for the championship. During PGA TOUR career, has won 24 of 26 events as a leader or co-leader after 54 holes. Tied Tom Watson for fifth all-time with eight professional major victories. Became the fifth player to win the first two majors of the year - Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1951, '53), Arnold Palmer (1960) and Nicklaus ('72). In receiving a paycheck of $1 million, became the first player to surpass the -million mark in career earnings (,246,327), and the first player to exceed million in four consecutive seasons...Second-round 9-under-par 63 led to a win at the Buick Open for 33rd career (20th different TOUR event) PGA TOUR victory. Led after both 36 and 54 holes. Has won 25 of 27 events when leader/co-leader after 54 holes. Entered final round one stroke ahead of Esteban Toledo, and carded a 2-under-par 70 to secure a four-stroke victory over four players. With victory in fourth attempt at Buick Open, now has played only two TOUR events three or more times as a professional (Nissan Open/4 and Phoenix Open/3) without recording a victory...Birdied final four holes at PGA Championship, but finished one stroke behind winner Rich Beem...Looking to capture his fourth consecutive WGC-NEC Invitational title, picked up 10th top-10 finish in 11 World Golf Championships events with a fourth-place finish at Sahalee CC...Closed with a 66 to finish at 25-under par and held off Retief Goosen Sunday to claim the $1 million first prize in the WGC-American Express Championship in Ireland. The win was his fifth of the season and the 34th of his PGA TOUR career...Played in third Ryder Cup competition, recording a 2-2-1 record at The Belfry...Attempting to make largest final-round comeback of TOUR career, tied personal final-round scoring record with 9-under-63 at Disney Golf Classic. Started off final round six shots behind 54-hole leader Chris DiMarco, and finished third, two strokes behind Bob Burns. With only three bogeys on the week, recorded only four bogeys in last 148 holes dating back to the 15th hole of the final round of the PGA Championship. During that stretch, averaged one bogey per 37 holes...Ended season with T7 at THE TOUR Championship and TOUR-high 13th top-10 finish...Tied his personal-low with a 61 on the second day of The PGA Grand Slam of Golf to win by 14 strokes...Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Dec. 12 in Park City, UT. The procedure removed fluid inside and outside the anterior cruciate ligament and a benign cyst. The surgery likely sidelined Woods for the 2003 season-opening Mercedes Championships.
Career Highlights
2001: Continued his reign as the world's top-ranked player, capturing five PGA TOUR events to up his total to 29 wins in 110 career starts as a professional. Won the Masters Tournament to become the first player to hold all four professional major titles at once. Won PGA TOUR and PGA Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive year and fourth time in five seasons. Led TOUR in Scoring Average (68.81, adjusted) for third straight year and captured third straight Vardon Trophy. Also led TOUR in Scrambling, getting up and down 69.8 percent of the time, the highest percentage since Greg Norman's 72.8 percent in 1993. 2000: One of the greatest years in the history of the game, setting or tying 27 PGA TOUR records and placing himself among the game's greats. Won three consecutive major championships (U.S. and British Opens, PGA Championship) and career Grand Slam, nine PGA TOUR victories and TOUR single-season earnings record of ,188,321. Non-adjusted scoring average of 68.17 best in golf history, surpassing Byron Nelson's 68.33 unofficial mark of 1945. Finished the year with 47 consecutive rounds of par or better and completing all 20 events started under par. Won PGA TOUR, PGA of America and GWAA player of the year honors...An eight-stroke victory in the British Open placed him in the same company with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as winners of the career Grand Slam. Became the youngest to do so at age 24...Joined Ben Hogan (1953) as the only men to win three professional majors in one season...Was 53-under par in four majors, next-best mark was 18-under by Ernie Els...Nine TOUR victories most in one season since Sam Snead won 11 in 1950...20th career win at the U.S. Open made him youngest in TOUR history to win 20 times...Season-opening victories at Mercedes Championship at AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am gave him wins in six consecutive starts, most since Hogan in 1948, and five behind Byron Nelson's record of 11 in a row. Beat Ernie Els in a playoff at Mercedes, then came from seven strokes back with seven holes to play at Pebble Beach, keyed by an eagle-birdie-par-birdie finish, for a 64 and a two-stroke win Finished T2 at Buick Invitational, four behind winner Phil Mickelson, in effort to win seven consecutive starts. Second-place pay day pushed him to first in TOUR career money earnings...In Masters, started 75-72 and finished fifth. In first round, made double bogey on 10 and triple bogey on 12...At U.S. Open, won by a major championship record 15 strokes (old record: Tom Morris Sr., 13 at 1864 British Open) at Pebble Beach. His 12-under 272 total tied the Open record of Jack Nicklaus and Lee Janzen and broke the Open mark in relation to par...Completed career Grand Slam with eight-stroke victory at British Open. His 19-under total at St. Andrews broke the British Open and major championship record in relation to par...In head-to-head battle with fellow California junior star Bob May, won PGA in three-hole playoff. Became first player since Denny Shute in 1936-37 to defend PGA title. Woods and May each played the final-round back nine in 31, with Woods birdieing the final two holes to force the three-hole playoff. Woods went birdie-par-par to win. He finished 18-under, giving him a share of the PGA most under-par record with May...Won WGC-NEC Invitational the next week by a record 11 strokes. 21-under 259 total a record for Firestone South...In next start, out of a fairway bunker on the par-5 72nd hole, faded a 6-iron from 213 yards over water to within 15 feet to secure a one-stroke victory over Grant Waite. Outdueled third-round co-leader Waite 65-66 on final day. Joined Lee Trevino (1971) as only players to win U.S., British and Canadian Opens in same year...Named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, the first two-time recipient (also won in 1996) in the 46-year history of the award. Also named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, becoming only three-time winner of that award. 1999: Earned a TOUR-record ,616,585, nearly million more than his nearest competitor, David Duval. Was named PGA TOUR Player of the Year, PGA of America and GWAA Player of the Year for second time...Earned his eighth career TOUR title and first since 1998 BellSouth Classic with two-stroke victory in Buick Invitational...Earned ninth TOUR victory at Memorial Tournament, defeating Vijay Singh by two strokes...Became youngest player since Seve Ballesteros to win two majors with his victory at PGA Championship at Medinah. Won by one stroke over Sergio Garcia...Became first player since Nick Price in 1994 to win five TOUR events in season with his win at WGC-NEC Invitational...Won his next start at National Car Rental Golf Classic at Walt Disney World Resort to become first player since Tom Watson in '80 to win six official TOUR titles in season...The next week won his third consecutive start at THE TOUR Championship, becoming the first player since Duval in '97 to accomplish that feat...Following week won the WGC-American Express Championship and became first player since Johnny Miller in '74 to win eight times in year and first since Ben Hogan in '53 to win four consecutive starts. 1998: Earned second international victory at Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand, defeating Ernie Els on second playoff hole, overcoming eight-stroke deficit to force playoff with Els...Earned seventh TOUR victory with one-stroke win over Jay Don Blake at BellSouth Classic. 1997: PGA TOUR Player of the Year, a season that included four victories and nine top-10 finishes...Highlight of year came at Masters Tournament, where rounds of 70-66-65-69-270 set 72-hole record. Won by 12 strokes...In first start after Masters, won GTE Byron Nelson Classic and later in summer captured Motorola Western Open...Prior to Masters, won first event of 1997 season at rain-shortened Mercedes Championships, defeating Tom Lehman on first playoff hole...Member of Ryder Cup Team, named PGA of America and Golf Writers Association of America Player of the Year. Associated Press chose his Masters win top sports story of 1997, and followed by his designation as AP's Male Athlete of the Year (first golfer to be so honored in 26 years). 1996: Turned professional at Greater Milwaukee Open, where he finished T60, and followed with two victories and three top-10s in only eight starts...Began final round of Las Vegas Invitational four strokes back, closed with 64 to force playoff with Davis Love III, then parred first extra hole for first TOUR win. Earned ,000 and was first sponsor's exemption to win TOUR event since Phil Mickelson at 1991 Northern Telecom Open...At Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic, shot closing 66 for one-stroke win...Named PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year. Also named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, becoming youngest to receive honor since gymnast Mary Lou Retton in 1984. Amateur: Won '91-93 U.S. Junior Amateur Championships when no one before or since has won more than one...In '94, at TPC at Sawgrass, became youngest winner of U.S. Amateur at age 18. The following year, became first to successfully defend U.S. Amateur title since Jay Sigel in '93. In '96, became first player to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles. Owns U.S. Amateur records for consecutive match-play victories (18) and winning percentage (.909). His six consecutive years of winning a USGA championship are second only to Bobby Jones' eight...Made cut in four of six major championships as amateur and was low amateur at 1995 Masters and 1996 British Open...Named year's top amateur player by Golf Digest and Golfweek in '92 and Golf World in '92 and '93. Golf World's "Man of the Year" in '94...Won '96 NCAA Championship at Stanford and was named Collegiate Player of the Year...Joined Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson as the only players to win NCAA and U.S. Amateur in same year.
Personal
Nicknamed "Tiger" after a Vietnamese soldier who was a friend of his father's in Vietnam...Putted against Bob Hope on the "Mike Douglas Show" at age 2, shot 48 for nine holes at age 3 and was featured in Golf Digest at age 5...In Feb. 1998, named to Blackwell's Best-Dressed List...Eighth athlete to be named Wheaties permanent rep, following Bob Richards (1958), Bruce Jenner (1977), Mary Lou Retton (1984), Pete Rose (1985), Walter Payton (1986), Chris Evert (1987) and Michael Jordan (1988)...Tiger Woods Foundation, chaired by father Earl, created to provide minority participation in golf and related activities...Foundation has pledged its full support to World Golf Foundation's The First Tee program...In 1997 won Sports Star of the Year Award, given to athletes who combine excellence in their sports with significant charitable endeavors...In 2000, on the cover of "Time" magazine, 40 years after Arnold Palmer became first golfer so honored...Web site is www.tigerwoods.com.
PGA TOUR Playoff Record 6-1
Other Information
Fashioned one of the greatest seasons in the history of the sport and in the process assured a place among the best to ever play the game...Highlights included three consecutive major championship titles and career Grand Slam, nine PGA TOUR victories and TOUR single-season earnings record of ,286,821...An eight-stroke British Open victory lifted him into company of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as holders of career Grand Slams and at the age of 24 was the youngest to do so...Became only the second player to win three majors in one season, joining Ben Hogan (1953)...Was 53-under par in four majors, next-best mark was 18-under by Ernie Els...His nine TOUR victories in a season were the most since Sam Snead won 11 in 1950...His 20th career win at U.S. Open made him youngest player in TOUR history to win 20 times...Started the season in historic fashion, with wins at Mercedes Championships and AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, giving him victories in six consecutive appearances, becoming first player since Hogan in 1948 to do so. Finished T2, four strokes back of Phil Mickelson in attempt to win seventh consecutive start at Buick Invitational...At the Mercedes Championships, shared 54-hole lead with Ernie Els and after both players eagled the 72nd hole to remain tied, won playoff with birdie on second extra hole...Beginning final round of AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was five strokes back of Mark Brooks and Matt Gogel. On the back nine, trailed Gogel by seven with seven holes to play but eagle-birdie-par-birdie finish and final-round 64 good for two-stroke win over Gogel and Vijay Singh...T2 at Buick Invitational earned him ,000 and he took over top spot on TOUR's career money list from Davis Love III, who had been No.1 for three weeks...After T18 at Nissan Open, reached the finals of the WGC -- Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship, losing to Darren Clarke 4 and 3...Rounds of 69-64 earned 36-hole lead at Bay Hill Invitational, which me maintained with closing 67-70 for 10th victory in 16 starts...A week later, was runnerup to Hal Sutton at THE PLAYERS Championship by one stroke...Finished fifth at the Masters Tournament after opening 75-72 and coming back with 68-69 on weekend. In first-round 75, made double bogey on 10 and triple bogey on 12...At GTE Byron Nelson Classic, closing 63 matched low round of tournament and lifted him to T4...In next start, held three-stroke lead through 54 holes at Deutsche Bank SAP Open before finishing third behind Lee Westwood. Marked first time since 1996, he had not won after holding 54-hole lead...A week later, successfully defended a title for the first time with win at Memorial Tournament...At U.S. Open, won by a major championship record 15 strokes (old record: Tom Morris, Sr., 13 at 1864 British Open) with rounds of 65-69-71-67--272 (-12) at Pebble Beach. His score tied a U.S. Open record held by Jack Nicklaus and Lee Janzen and his 12-under total broke record in relation to par...Following a T23 at Advil Western Open, completed career grand slam with eight-stroke victory over Thomas Bjorn and Ernie Els at British Open. With rounds of 67-68-67-69--269 (19-under), at St. Andrews, broke British Open and major championship record in relation to par...In head-to-head battle with fellow California junior star Bob May, won PGA Championship in three-hole playoff. With victory, became first player since Denny Shute in 1936-37 to defend PGA Championship. Playing in the final twosome of the day, both players shot back-nine 31s, with Woods birdieng the final two holes to force playoff, where he went birdie-par-par (3-4-5) for win. Rounds of 66-67-70-67--270 (18-under) gave him share of most under-par record with May...The following week, successfully defended another title at the WGC -- NEC World Series of Golf by 11 strokes over Justin Leonard and Phillip Price. Started week with 64-61--125 to set an all-time PGA TOUR record for opening rounds. On the weekend, added a pair of 67s and finished at 21-under-par 259 for a Firestone South record...In next start, out of a fairway bunker on the 72nd hole, faded a six-iron from 213 yards over water to within 15 feet for eagle putt to secure a one-stroke victory over Grant Waite at the Bell Canadian Open. Joined Lee Trevino (1971) as only players to win U.S., British and Canadian Opens in same year and received Triple Crown Trophy from Royal Canadian Golf Association...A member of victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team...Closed official season with third place in defense of National Car Rental Golf Classic at Walt Disney World Resort, a second place in defense of THE TOUR Championship and T5 in defense of WGC-American Express Championship...At year's end, voted by his peers the PGA TOUR Player of the Year (Jack Nicklaus Award); the PGA of America Player of the Year for third time in four years; winner of the Byron Nelson Award and Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average; the Arnold Palmer Award as leading money winner; the GWAA Player of the Year; the Mark H. McCormack Award for leading Official World Golf Ranking for most weeks; the Andersen Consulting Medal for best performance in WGC events; the Palm Performance Award as leading money winner on TOUR West Coast Swing; the Fall Finish Award presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers as leading money winner on TOUR's fall schedule...Set or tied 27 records during the course of the season. His actual scoring average of 68.17 set a new scoring average mark, besting Sam Snead's 50-year-old 69.23 record and Byron Nelson's 68.33 unofficial mark, set in 1945...Named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in December, the first two-time recipient (also won in 1996) in the 46-year history of the award...Named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, becoming only three-time winner of award.
National Teams
U.S. World Amateur, 1994; Walker Cup, 1995; Ryder Cup (3), 1997, 1999, 2001; Dunhill Cup, 1998; The Presidents Cup (2) 1998, 2000; World Cup (3) 1999, 2000, 2001
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