Golf Hall of Fame Induction 2021
In preparation for the upcoming 2021 World Golf Hall of Fame ceremony, Tiger Woods was recently announced to be one of the future Hall of Famers. The announcement might seem surprising given his young age, but he deserves it more than anyone. He hadn’t even turned 45 when the announcement was made!
Despite his age, though, Tiger’s track record is almost impossible to accomplish. He’s won 82 PGA Tour events in the States alone and 93 in total around the world. On top of the Tours, Woods has 15 major wins and probably a couple of the most dynamic comebacks in sports history!
Little Eldrick Tont Woods, the Prodigal Child
In 1975, little Eldrick Tont Woods was born in Cypress, California. His parents were Earl Woods, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant, and Kutilda Woods, Earl’s second wife. His dad gave Eldrick the nickname Tiger; little did they know that it would stick with him for life.
Tiger grew up watching his dad play golf, so it didn’t take long for him to develop an interest. He started shooting holes when he was just six months old! By the time he turned two, he had made his first TV appearance on The Michael Douglas Show. The Golf Digest magazine wrote an article about him when he was five.
Immediate Success Upon Turning Professional
Tiger only turned pro in his 20s. His reputation, however, was already preceding him. He had six wins on the Optimist International Junior World tournament, with participants from all around the world and five U.S. Junior Amateur Championships. His excellent performance, along with his many TV appearances, were enough to intimidate his new opponents.
He ranked as World’s No. 33 within the first year of his professional career. As a result, Sports Illustrated listed him as the Sportsman of the Year, and the PGA Tour listed him as the Rookie of the Year. Soon enough, he would also win his first Masters Tournament.
Reached No. 1 World Ranking Within His First Year
With record-breaking speed, Tiger Woods was ranked the world’s No. 1 by 1997. That was the year when he won his first Major Championship in Augusta, Georgia. It was the 61st Masters Tournament. His win made him the as well as the youngest person ever to win a Masters.
He was earning one title after the other. To the day, Tiger might not be winning as much as he used to back then, but he’s never underperforming. He kept his No. 1 ranking for many consecutive years. His first debunk was in 2004, only to win it right back the following year.
Sick To His Stomach, Yet Champion
Probably the greatest example of Tiger’s drive would be his fourth PGA Tour event win in 2003. Not only did he wipe out his competition, but he was also sick to his stomach while doing so. According to Bill Hay, an employee of the club, he took breaks between holes to throw up.
No matter his difficulties, Tiger won the event. Thankfully, he only had simple food poisoning that day, which he quickly overcame. Woods ended that year being selected as Player of the Year by the PGA Tour, PGA of America, and the Golf Writers Association of America.
The Stylish Player’s Playing Style
Every golfer has his secret when it comes to throwing successful swings, and so does Tiger. His would probably be to evolve constantly. Throughout his career, we’ve seen him change style depending on his body capabilities and golf clubs. He never once lost his accuracy or his focus.
Since he was young, he had trouble with his knee and back, which shaped his game style. Especially in the most recent years, Tiger’s had to undergo multiple surgeries to make improvements. Naturally, he has changed his swing to accommodate his needs. Despite the transitions, he almost never misses.
High-profile Marriage to Elin Nordegren
Of course, one of the many reasons his name has been heard is his not-so-private life. Especially while he was in a relationship with his, now ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, they were making one headline after the other as a couple. They were engaged by 2003.
Although they were happy for a long while, Tiger’s biggest fallout came during their relationship, which almost cost him his career. They first met each other in the ‘00s, after Elin’s move to the States. She was working as a nanny before she met him.
Who is Elin?
In the ‘00s, Elin Nordegren got a job as an au pair in the States for a Swedish golfer. It didn’t take long for her to get acquainted with Tiger. Elin was born in Stockholm in 1980. They were introduced to each other during 2001’s Open Championship.
They must have clicked immediately, as almost two years later, Tiger proposed to her. They were both in their 20s at the time, with Tiger being five years older than Erin. They were married in October 2004, and soon enough, they would start their seemingly happy family.
Married with Children
Tiger and Elin had two beautiful children together. Their daughter, Sam Alexis, was born in 2007. He announced the happy news a day after he finished with the U.S. Open that year. Although he didn’t win it, he was given the best gift there is.
Merely a couple of years later, their only son was born. They announced that they were expecting in 2008, and by 2009, Charlie Axel became the newest addition to their family. However, soon enough, Tiger’s life took an unexpected turn for the worse. It just goes to show that we can never know what’s going on behind closed doors.
Tiger’s Infamous Car Crash
In November 2009, a famous tabloid newspaper wrote an article accusing Tiger of having an extramarital affair abroad, in Australia. Two days later, Tiger’s car was found crashed almost right outside his house in Florida. Elin had tried to get her husband out by smashing the windows.
Tiger had to be treated for his minor wounds, so we didn’t hear from him for the next few days. Naturally, people couldn’t help but speculate. He eventually made a statement apologizing for his irresponsible behavior and ensuring everyone that he wasn’t hurt too much from the crash.
The Jaimee Grubbs Affair
At the time, he had recently become a father of two. On top of that, he was accused of being an infidel and had completely wrecked his Cadillac Escalade. He didn’t feel fit enough to participate in the upcoming tournaments, so he wound up taking some time away from the golf course.
Soon enough, another article was written about him. This time, it was about a cocktail waitress from Los Angeles named Jaimee Grubbs, who claimed she had an over two-year-long affair with him. However, it didn’t end there, as Jaimee also had more than 300 text messages to back her claim.
Affairs & Career Dead-End
If what Jaimee claimed was true, it meant that Tiger started his affair a couple of months before his daughter was even born. The allegations, along with his car crash, only proved that he was having trouble handling the situation. This time, he couldn’t sweep it all under the rug.
As Tiger was getting a lot of backlash for his behavior, his career started appearing to have reached a dead end. In the meantime, he avoided talking to the press for as long as he could. Eventually, more allegations came to light regarding his cheating.
Divorce & Children’s Custody
Seven years and two children since getting married, Elin’s and Tiger’s relationship came to an end. Their differences were irreconcilable, and Tiger’s behavior so far wasn’t making it easy for them to stay together. Their divorce was finalized in 2010. They tried to keep its details as private as possible.
He might not have been a good husband, but he wanted to be a good father to his son and daughter. It was decided that they would share the custody of their children to the best of their abilities. After all, their children’s happiness was a priority.
Big Break, Bigger Comeback
With everything that was going on, Tiger had no choice but to stop participating in tournaments for a while. He wound up announcing a hiatus, which lasted 144 days. Having so much time on his hands, it was the perfect period for him to do some much-needed soul searching.
Proving once again how tenacious he is, Tiger eventually returned to the course stronger than ever. Even during that rocky year, he finished T4 on both the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open once his break was over. In the meantime, some of his many endorsements were trebling.
Clearing His Name
Having behaved so irrationally over the previous year, Tiger had but one move left to make. As many of his business partners were pulling out, his publicity was worse than ever, and his marriage was coming to an end, Tiger felt the need to apologize publicly.
Ever since his troubles started, Tiger’s talked to the public to apologize. He did so first when he crashed his car, and later, once his affairs were brought to light. In early 2010, he publicly admitted having been infidel and cleared the way for his comeback later that year.
Rehabilitation, Treatment, and Damage Control
In order to come back, however, Tiger had a lot of image cleaning to do. He spent the first month of 2010 inside an addiction rehab facility that suited his needs. While staying there, even more women came clean about having had relations with Tiger in the past.
On his apology statement later that year, he claimed that he had undergone a 45-day-long treatment. He was clearly committed to turn over a new leaf and be more responsible. With all fairness, he couldn’t have ever returned to golf had he not tried to fix his image issue.
Accomplishments Until that Point
It would be safe to assume that had Tiger not been such an exceptional golfer, people wouldn’t have been bothered so much by his scandal. Let’s not forget that up until that point, he had broken countless records despite his young age and won numerous tournaments.
Tiger had even been selected as Associate Press Athlete of the Decade and had already earned himself a fortune mostly from his endorsements and prize money. In fact, he was the first athlete to have earned over $1 billion with his career, within just a decade and a half of going pro.
Saying Goodbye To His Endorsements
In his peak, Tiger was earning over $105 million within a year. When the scandal broke out, however, this number was cut in half. Even though some of the companies that were endorsing him, like Nike, never left his side, many others did.
The biggest example is companies like Gatorade and AT&T. Soon after his infidelities became public knowledge, both companies issued statements wishing him well yet distancing themselves. In the meantime, Nike, who up until that point had paid him more than $250 million, never stopped believing in him.
Back On Course
Of course, we would probably not be speaking of Tiger right now had he not been able to get back up on his feet. After all, a golf club might very well be considered as an extension of his arm by now. Tiger didn’t just make a comeback, but he never stopped winning tournaments either.
His golf-course-building business went back on track, as well as his many other ventures. In the meantime, his wins kept coming. The brightest example is the big 2019 Masters win, where he defeated his opponents by one stroke. He’s in his 40s right now and still in perfect shape.
DUI Arrest, Tiger Found with Drugs In His System
His troubles continued, however, in 2017, when he was arrested for a suspected DUI. Tiger was found asleep in his car in the middle of a driveway near his house. Immediately he was tested and was found with five different substances in his system.
Given that it was his first DUI, he managed to get out of it with a fine and some community service hours. It turns out that Tiger had mixed his prescription medication drugs accidentally. He had taken two different painkillers, medication for anxiety as well as a THC pill.
Declining Health Yet Rising Businesses
Even with a slight bump along the way, Tiger always found the courage to get back out on the golf course. He might no longer be winning with the same frequency as he did in the ‘90s and ‘00s, but he’s far from being out of shape.
With all fairness, Tiger has suffered many injuries. He’s had to take a lot of time off to recover from his knee and back surgeries. Just between 2014 and 2017, Tiger went under the knife thrice to fix his back problems. In the meantime, his course-building and restaurant businesses eventually became a reliable source of income for him.
His Net Worth Depicts One of the Highest-Paid Athletes
Within 2020, Forbes magazine created a list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. Of course, Tiger Woods was in it. After all, he might as well be the world’s richest golfer! Today, he is estimated to be worth up to $800 million. He’s earned over $120 million from his PGA Tour alone.
By now, he’s won 15 majors and 82 PGA Tour Titles. His largest income source has always been his endorsements, having amassed over $1.5 billion through them over the years. He now gets to live in one of the most exclusive zip codes in the States.
The Road to Happiness
It appears he’s finally been able to settle down again too. In 2017, some time after his infamous arrest, Tiger made his relationship with Erica Hermann public. She was apparently managing his restaurant when they first met. Soon enough, their romance started. By the end of 2017, they were attending events as a couple.
They even went on the Presidents Cup together that December. Although Erica never necessarily enjoyed the spotlight, she can be quite often seen cheering him on during his games. Despite their differences, they seem to be inseparable. Tiger finally seems to be as happy in real life as he is on the course.
Who Is Erica Hermann?
Erica and Tiger come from completely different backgrounds. She’s not just ten years younger than him, but she’s also much more comfortable in the shadows rather than in the spotlight. That’s probably the reason she helps in keeping Tiger so grounded. She was probably the one who helped him get past his arrest.
On top of their picture-perfect relationship, Erica also seems to be doing great with Tiger’s children. In fact, he’s not shied away from sharing happy family pictures on his social media accounts. No matter how busy Tiger’s schedule gets, he always finds time to spend with Erica.
Business ventures, Charitable Causes & Interests
Along with his professional career comes his business interests. Today, Tiger has created an entire business empire for himself, the TGR company based in Jupiter, Florida. He’s also founded the TGR Foundation, a charitable cause whose goal is for all students and teachers to have the resources they need.
However, the money-makers are TGR Design, TGR Live, and The Woods restaurant. With these ventures, he designs full-service golf courses and hosts events—anything from a concert to a golf event. In the meantime, his sports-bar-themed restaurant might not have a Michelin star, but it’s definitely worth visiting!
The $54-Million Estate in Jupiter Island
Along with his divorce, Tiger figured he’d build himself a hideout in Jupiter Island. He still lives there to the day. It’s an almost $54-million worth estate that boasts a four-hole golf course, a 100-foot-long swimming pool, two main buildings, a basketball court, and a tennis court.
It has a 3,300-square-foot main house, as well as a 6,400-square-foot building with all the entertainment facilities. In fact, the bigger building has everything from a gym to a private movie theater and a wine cellar. Of course, the lot also has a guesthouse, a games room, and a garage.
His Relationship with His Children
As we’ve already mentioned, Tiger shares custody of his two children with Elin Nordegren. They have grown up a lot since their parents split up and apparently resemble their dad more as they grow older. Tiger could not have been prouder of his two younglings, and often shares updates on social media.
For their sake, Tiger and Elin even made up, maintaining a friendly relationship to the day. He’s raised them in the most honest and responsible way he could, despite his many troubles along the way. It’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing a lot more of them as they come of age.
The Woods restaurant
Relatively close to his house is his Jupiter Island restaurant. Tiger spent years sampling pop-up restaurants on the road before settling on a physical location. The result is The Woods restaurant, which offers its clients an elevated sports-bar feel. In his words, it’s where one would go to celebrate like a champion.
The Woods offers a menu filled with elevated and sophisticated versions of all-time classic American foods. It serves everything from fish to ribs and onion rings. On top of everything, he’s also made sure to add an extensive list of spirits, cocktails, and even cigars.
TGR Foundation
For as long as he’s been a professional golfer, Tiger has also been operating the Tiger Woods Foundation. He established it with his father in 1996, but it now goes by the name TGR Foundation. Its current main focus is to create a global learning community providing the required resources to students and teachers alike.
Tiger burst forth in the ‘90s, creating junior golf events, and immediately he felt like his actions had a great impact. Along with his dad, they’ve even launched a scholar program, supporting students financially through their studies called The Earl Woods Scholar Program.
TGR Design
Probably his favorite business venture, however, is the TGR Design team. Tiger first announced his plans to start constructing golf courses in 2006. By the end of that year, he had undertaken TGR Design’s first project abroad in Dubai. He’s now built courses all around the globe.
Of course, they have also made a practice facility near his house in Jupiter, Florida. They also have several locations in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Texas. According to TGR Design’s website, every course they make is different and created to the highest standards.
Connecting with Fans Online
With all the problems he’s faced along the way, Tiger’s career probably would have been a lot less significant had it not been for his impressive following. He is loved both on the course and online. In fact, just on his Twitter account, he has over 6.5 million people following him.
Although his feed revolves mostly around his games and businesses, he makes sure to post cute updates on his family and personal life occasionally. It seems as though whether he’s shooting holes, advertising his projects, or posting selfies, his fans can’t get enough of him.
Career earnings
Having spent two and a half decades in the limelight, there’s nothing that screams ‘successful career’ more than massive net worth. Of course, he bagged a lot from his many tournament wins but had it not been for his loyal endorsements and his mind for business, his fortune probably would’ve been different now.
Tiger has also published books on top of shooting hole-in-ones, building top-of-the-line golf courses, and managing restaurants. It sometimes seems like anything he touches turns to gold! After all, he’s worth approximately $800 million, earning over $62 million in a year, sometimes even more!
Woods’ Written Works & Best-Sellers
For the longest time, Tiger Woods had his own monthly column on the Golf Digest Magazine. He only stopped writing it in 2011. By that time, however, Woods had already published one best-selling book, in 2001, titled How I Play Golf. Soon after, he would also release an autobiographical book.
It came in 2017, co-written with Lorne Rubenstein. It was published on the 20th anniversary of his Masters win and titled The 1997 Masters: My Story. He’s now apparently working on a third book, named Back, which he announced in 2019 but is yet to be published.
Presidential Freedom Medal
In recognition of his extraordinary journey and life, Tiger Woods was recently awarded the Presidential Freedom Medal. It’s the highest honor a civilian can receive! In doing so, Tiger became one of the youngest people ever to get it and one of the only athletes to do so.
Former President Donald Trump decided to honor him after watching Woods making his inspiring comeback, winning his 15th Major Championship that year. It’s safe to say that the medal now has a special place in Woods’ trophy room. He was only 43 years old when he received it.
Golf Hall of Fame Induction 2021
In preparation for the upcoming 2021 World Golf Hall of Fame ceremony, Tiger Woods was recently announced to be one of the future Hall of Famers. The announcement might seem surprising given his young age, but he deserves it more than anyone. He hadn’t even turned 45 when the announcement was made!
Despite his age, though, Tiger’s track record is almost impossible to accomplish. He’s won 82 PGA Tour events in the States alone and 93 in total around the world. On top of the Tours, Woods has 15 major wins and probably a couple of the most dynamic comebacks in sports history!