Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about Tiger Woods is that he is still only in his early 30s. But if it seems as if this formidable force of the fairways has been around forever, it’s simply because he started so young. A child prodigy, Eldrick Tiger Woods was just two years old in October 1978 when he appeared on the Mike Douglas TV Show, putting against Rob Hope.
Unlike many other prodigious talents however, Tiger grew up to fulfill his remarkable potential and indeed surpass it.
Tiger Woods: I expect to win every time I play because that’s what I go there to do. I figure there's no point in going to a tournament if you don’t think you can win.
He legally changed his name from Eldrick to Tiger in 1996, the year he turned professional. Since then, Tiger has racked up 61 wins on the PGA Tour. With 13 professional major title to his name, he’s already ranked second in the overall winner’s list to Jack Nicklaus, whose wins stretched over 24 years.
Tiger’s great mentor, coach and friend was his father, Earl, who died after a long battle with prostate cancer in May, 2006. Tiger took nine weeks of from golf to be with his family. And when he returned at the US Open that year, he missed the cut for the first time in a major as a professional. But with his usual grit and concentration, he soon recovered his form. At the open championship a few weeks later, he scored an extraordinary victory and dedicated it to his father’s memory. He proceeded to finish off a triumphant year dominating the PGA Championship and winning his 50th professional tournament by trouncing all commoners at the Buick Open in August.
One of the highlights of his life came in December 1998 when he and his father had lunch at Nelson Mandela’s house. Tiger was in South Africa to play in the Million Dollar Golf Challenge at Sun City. He was unequivocal when asked if he was going to win.
Tiger Woods: Of course. That’s the one reason why I came down, is to win.
However, capping an out of the ordinary substandard year, Tiger lost the event to Nick Price. Recently, Tiger has begun to expand his interest further than simply playing a game of golf. In June, 2007, work began on the Tiger Woods Dubai Golf Course, the first course he has ever designed. It is expected to open in September, 2009 and will include a boutique hotel, restaurant and golf academy.
While overseeing an impressive new facility for the region though, Tiger did disappoint Emirates Gulf fans by announcing in December 2007 that he wouldn’t be taking part in the Dubai World Championship in 2009. But Tiger’s decision to forego the world’s richest golf tournament speaks volumes about the changing priorities in his life.
In October 2004, he married the Swedish model, Elin Nordegrem and three years later, she gave birth to their first child, Sam Alexis. A new father when his wife was admitted to the hospital early.
Tiger Woods: Everything was all right, I mean it wasn’t life threatening or anything but she just had a few problems and she had to be admitted and it wasn’t easy, you know it was not easy because I want to be there and the doctor and Elin said “There is nothing you can do.” So go out there and just get a W, well came close but that night was infinitely more rewarding than a W could ever have been.
And the doubting father admitted he’s already put a golf club in little Sam’s cart.
Tiger Woods: Well it already happened so—she couldn’t quite hold it but it was there.
Tiger Woods is one former child star who’s not only avoided burnout but has positively triumphed. His reason for this is simple, he loves what he does.
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