Tiger Woods is a golfer who won his first major in 1997 and his fifteenth in 2019. His career includes record-tying PGA Tour wins, several back surgeries, and a 2026 legal case. This biography covers his early life, titles, honors, injuries, and recent events.
Who Is Tiger Woods?
Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer who is tied for first in PGA Tour wins and second in men’s major championships. He is 50 years old in October 2026. His 15 majors trail only Jack Nicklaus (18), and his 82 PGA Tour wins tie Sam Snead for the most ever.
Where and When Was Tiger Woods Born?
Tiger Woods was born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California, to Earl and Kultida Woods, and grew up in Orange County. He was nicknamed Tiger after Vuong Dang Phong, a Vietnamese friend of his father who served with him in Vietnam.
How Did Tiger Woods Start Playing Golf?
Tiger Woods shot a 48 over nine holes at age 3 and appeared in Golf Digest and on ABC’s That’s Incredible at age 5. His amateur record includes:
- 3 consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles from 1991 to 1993
- 3 consecutive U.S. Amateur titles from 1994 to 1996
- An NCAA individual championship at Stanford University
A golf scholarship took him to Stanford. He attended for two years.
How Did Tiger Woods’ Professional Career Develop?
Tiger Woods turned professional at age 20 and won his first major, the Masters, in 1997. He was the youngest Masters champion at the time. In 2000 and 2001, he became the first golfer since Bobby Jones to hold all four men’s major titles at once, known as the Tiger Slam.
Woods has won 93 worldwide events. He is a two-time winner of The Players and the first two-time FedExCup winner. He has played on 8 Ryder Cup teams and 9 Presidents Cup teams.
How Many Major Championships Has Tiger Woods Won?
Tiger Woods has won 15 major championships. Table 1 lists the wins by tournament.
Table 1: Tiger Woods major championship wins by tournament
| Tournament | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 5 | 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 |
| PGA Championship | 4 | 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 |
| The Open Championship | 3 | 2000, 2005, 2006 |
| U.S. Open | 3 | 2000, 2002, 2008 |
His last major title was the 2019 Masters, and his last PGA Tour win was the 2019 Zozo Championship.
What Honors Has Tiger Woods Received?
Tiger Woods has received 4 major honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The honors are:
- Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded May 6, 2019, making him the fourth golfer to receive it
- World Golf Hall of Fame induction, listed as enshrined in 2022
- Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame induction in 2009
- 11 PGA Tour Player of the Year awards
His TGR Foundation has supported more than 2 million students.
What Injuries and Comebacks Define Tiger Woods’ Career?
Tiger Woods has had at least 6 major physical setbacks since 2017. The sequence is:
- Undergo a fourth back surgery in April 2017
- Win the 2019 Masters, ending an 11-year major drought
- Suffer severe leg injuries in a February 2021 car crash
- Return at the 2022 Masters and finish 47th
- Rupture his left Achilles tendon and undergo surgery in March 2025
- Undergo disc replacement surgery in October 2025
He had also undergone lumbar microdecompression surgery in September 2024.
What Happened to Tiger Woods in 2026?
Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, on March 27, 2026. He was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a lawful test, and pleaded not guilty. On March 31, he announced he was stepping away to seek treatment, and he missed the Masters. He spent weeks at a rehab facility in Switzerland.
On September 2, 2026, Woods pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving. His driver’s license is suspended for 5 years. The state attorney cited a deterioration of proof in the DUI case. A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction.
Earlier in 2026, Woods played in the TGL final, where his team Jupiter Links lost 9 to 2. He also chairs the PGA Tour’s Future Competitions Committee.
What Is Tiger Woods’ Personal Life?
Tiger Woods took leave from golf from December 2009 to April 2010 after admitting infidelity. He was married to Elin Nordegren from 2004 to 2010 and has 2 children. He attended his September 2026 court hearing with girlfriend Vanessa Trump. He lives in Jupiter, Florida.
People Also Ask About Tiger Woods
How Old Is Tiger Woods?
Tiger Woods was born on December 30, 1975, so he is 50 years old in October 2026.
How Many Majors Has Tiger Woods Won?
Tiger Woods has won 15 major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus with 18.
How Many PGA Tour Wins Does Tiger Woods Have?
Tiger Woods has 82 PGA Tour wins, tied with Sam Snead for the most in history.
When Did Tiger Woods Last Win a Major?
Tiger Woods last won a major at the 2019 Masters.
What Is the Summary of Tiger Woods’ Biography?
Tiger Woods is an American golfer born in 1975 in Cypress, California. He won 15 majors and 82 PGA Tour wins between 1996 and 2019, earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and entered the World Golf Hall of Fame. Injuries limited his play after 2019, and a 2026 crash ended in a reduced reckless driving plea.