Written by: Colby Roach, Sports Editor
With the words, “Hello world,” Eldrick “Tiger” Woods rose to world No. 1.
August 25, 1996, four days prior to the start of the Greater Milwaukee Open, Woods became the first golfer to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships. After being a standout at Stanford University, Woods left college early after two years, at the age of 20 to pursue a career in professional golf.
Woods accepted his first sponsor invitation to play the Greater Milwaukee Open. Even though Woods had just signed endorsement deals with Nike and Titleist worth around $40 million, he had to borrow the tournament’s $100 entry feel from instructor Butch Harmon. In that year, Woods notched his first two wins on tour, qualifying him for the Tour Championship.
April 1997, Woods clinched his first of four green jackets, setting the record for highest margin of victory, 12-strokes. Two months later, Woods rose to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings, setting the record for fastest-ever ascent to the No. 1 position. In 2000, Woods recorded six consecutive wins, the longest winning streak since Ben Hogan in 1948. Three of those wins were major championships, crediting Woods as the youngest to complete the Career Grand Slam at the age of 24. By the end of the year, Woods had won nine of the 20 PGA Tour events that he entered.
Woods career hit a rough patch in 2003, after not winning a major that year or the next. In Sept. 2004, Woods stent at World No. 1 ended at 264 consecutive weeks at the top position.
Woods rebounded in 2005, winning six official PGA Tour money events and reclaiming the top spot in July after swapping back and forth with Vijay Singh over the first half of the year.
Following the death of his father in May 2006, Woods took a nine-week hiatus from the tour and appeared rusty upon his return at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he missed the cut. He quickly returned to form and ended the year by winning six consecutive tour events. He ended the season with 54 wins and 12 majors. Woods had broken the tour records for both total wins and total majors wins over eleven seasons.
Woods problems arose in 2008 after missing two months after undergoing knee surgery. Woods returned at the U.S. Open in dramatic fashion, capturing the win over Rocco Mediate, claiming his 14 and most recent major.
Mediate spoke of Woods performance, “This guy does things that are just not normal by any stretch of the imagination.”
Two days later, Woods announced that he would miss the remainder of the season due to additional knee surgery. In Woods’ absence, TV ratings for the remainder of the season suffered a huge decline from 2007.
Because of the nature of the game, golfers have always been awarded a graceful finish to their careers.
We’ve always been able to peacefully watch them ride off into the sunset. The end of Tiger’s career isn’t peacefully landing at the airport; it has crashed and burned.
On Thanksgiving night in 2009, Woods’s meticulously crafted image was shattered in a single-car accident outside of his home in Windermere, Fla. The sex scandal spawned by that messy night is the line of demarcation in Woods’ career.
On Thanksgiving night, after Woods, an insomniac, took an Ambien and fell asleep, Elin Nordegren (wife) took his phone and scrolled for Rachel Uchitel’s number. Uchitel was a New York City nightclub hostess.
She clicked on it and found a text from Woods to Uchitel: “You are the only one I’ve ever loved.”
Nordegren began texting Uchitel — as Woods.
“I miss you,” Nordegren wrote. “When are we seeing each other again?”
Uchitel replied immediately, expressing surprise that Woods was up.
Nordegren called Uchitel immediately. “I knew it was you,” she said. “I know everything.”
Uchitel hired Gloria Allred as the scandal blew up and scheduled a press conference. It was canceled. Reports circulated that Woods paid her $10 million to keep quiet.
Uchitel was not the only one, others included: Mindy Lawton, Holly Sampson, Joslyn James and Cori Rist. By the beginning of Dec., Woods total was up to 14. By the end of the month, Woods had entered rehab for sex addiction.
While in rehab, Woods confessed to sleeping with 120 women, but Nordegren remained on the fence about leaving him until April 2010, when a 15th mistress was revealed. Her name was Raychel Coudriet. She was the daughter of the couple next door and first met Woods when she was only 14.
Since 2009, Woods has struggled on and off the course. Multiple back surgeries plagued his life and golf game.
Now Woods spends most of his time at his $60 million residence on Jupiter Island, Fla., playing video games. Golf has taken a backseat in Woods life as he tries to get healthy once again and spend time with his kids.
More notably, Woods has been seen at his kids soccer games as well as fishing from their dock.
“I want to spend as much time as I can with my kids. I have split custody, so when I’m at home, I want to be home with them, take them to a soccer game or to school or to activities, whatever it is. I’m their dad.”
Woods continued, “All I do these days is play soccer with my kids. That’s all I do, run, run, run around playing soccer.”
His tranquil world was turned upside down on May 29, 2017 as Woods was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence early Monday near his home in Jupiter, Fla, according to an online Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report.
“I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Woods said. “I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly.
Woods continued, “I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too. I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.
On October 27, Woods pleaded guilty to driving under the influence to avoid jail time. Woods will enter a diversion program and spend a year on probation and pay a $250 fine and court costs. He has already met some of the program’s other requirements, completing 50 hours of community service at the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Three days later, Woods announced his return to competitive golf on Nov. 30 at the Hero World Challenge.
As Woods plans to make his return in two weeks, what can we expect from the 14-time major champion?
We know via his Twitter, Woods has been grinding hours upon hours as he prepares to return to competitive golf at his tournament The Hero World Challenge on Nov. 30 in the Bahamas.
Woods, age 41, is excited to return to competitive golf stating, “I miss being inside the ropes. I want to be out there with the guys competing, it is like a family out here.” Woods continued, “Albany is the perfect setting and it will be great to join this outstanding field. I would like to thank the fans for their unwavering support during my injury.”
Rickie Fowler said, “Tiger is hitting it like he did years ago. He is hitting it way better than me and I am no short hitter.”
Given that Tiger has captured four green jackets with three different golf swings, one more reinvention is not inconceivable. Can he reclaim his destiny and break Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major championships?
Colby Roach is a Communications: Journalism Option major. Colby is the sports editor for the Bryan Triangle. He has also completed an internship with the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
