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.