December 30th, 2025 – Tiger Woods turns the big FIVE ZERO …
A very special happy 50th birthday to Tiger Woods and with GolfByTourMiss delighted to share in Tiger’s birthday looking back over the past 50-years, admiring the golfer who single-handedly changed the very landscape of the ancient club-and-ball game.
We’ve chosen a mix of 30-odd Woods related notes dealing with his career, and sharing some of our own Tiger-related memories from being in his presence, as he competed around the world.
Let’s get started.
1. Born Eldrick Tont Woods, December 30, 1975 (Cypress, California).
2. His parents Earl and Kultida first met in the 1960s amid the Vietnam War. As a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces, Earl was deployed to the same base in Thailand where Kultida, née Punsawad, worked as a secretary. The pair quickly fell in love, and, smitten with the Green Beret, Kultida followed Earl back to New York, where they married before settling down and starting a family in Cypress, Calif.
3. Woods’ parents were married for 37 years until Earl died in May 2006 at their home in Cypress. Sadly, Kultida died nearly two decades later in February 2025 at the age of 81.
A young Tiger with mum and dad. Image Getty
A 2021 two-part documentary featured home videos and archived audio, including one of Earl recalling the first time he saw Tiger putt a ball. “When Tiger was 10 months old, I unstrapped him out of his high chair one day and he walked over and hit the ball,” Earl recalled. “I said, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got something special.’
4. Something special indeed. Woods took an interest in golf at age 6 months, watching as his father hit golf balls into a net and imitating his swing. He appeared on The Mike Douglas Show at age 2, putting with Bob Hope. He shot 48 for nine holes at age 3 and was featured in Golf Digest at age 5.
5. In 1992 Woods was 15 years old and a student at Western High in Anaheim when he became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur champion; He retained the title in 1993 and ’94. Woods is the only golfer to have won the U.S. Amateur three consecutive times (1994–1996).
6. Woods made his PGA Tour debut as a 16-year-old in missing the cut at the 1982 Nissan Los Angeles Open. Woods turned pro on August 27th, 1996 at the Greater Milwaukee Open. He finished T60th to earn $2,544.
7. Three weeks later Woods, and contesting just a third PGA Tour event as pro, got himself in contention heading to the weekend rounds of the Quad City Classic (now known as the John Deere Classic).
That same weekend the second edition of the Presidents Cup was taking place at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Virginia. I was in attendance that week in Virginia and a golf course close to Manassas, a scene of not one but two brutal battles in the American Civil War.
Tiger Woods competing in the 1996 Quad City Classic. Image AllSport
However, when news reached the Presidents Cup media centre that Woods had put himself in contention at the Quad City Classic in Illinois, half the media packed-up and left, believing it to be a far bigger story unfolding in reporting on Woods’ closing two rounds.
Woods was three clear heading into the last day but a quadruple bogey ‘8’ at the fourth hole was the highpoint of Woods’ day losing by four shots to then 43-year-old Ed Fiori, who very sadly passed away in July this year aged 72. “I never thought I’d be in this position again,” said Fiori. “I just sent in my application for Tour Qualifying School this week. I was thinking about giving it all up, but my wife said send it in anyway.”
Fiori had received a medical exemption to tee-up and claimed his first PGA Tour victory since the 1982 Bob Hope Desert Classic. Woods joined Jeff Maggert, Hugh Royer III and Phil Blackmar sharing fifth at 272.”I never thought I’d be in this position again,” said Fiori, who also won the 1981 Western Open. “I just sent in my application for Tour Qualifying School this week. I was thinking about giving it all up, but my wife said send it in anyway.” By the way, with Arnold Palmer at the helm, the USA Presidencts Cup side edged Peter Thomson’s Internationals 16.5-15.5.
8. Woods’ $42,150 cheque brought his winnings to $82,194 in his opening three three PGA Tour events, more than half the approximately $150,000 he needed to be among the top 125 money winners and avoid having to go to qualifying school. “I’m pretty ticked off right now,” Woods said. “I had a three-shot lead and it slipped away in a heartbeat. I putted horribly. But I see progress.”
9. Progress indeed as Woods needed just four further tournament starts to win a maiden PGA Tour title at the Las Vegas Invitational. The date was October 6th, 1996, and a young Woods, six weeks after winning a third consecutive U.S. Amateur title, quickly lived up to the hype in Gambling Capital of the World, defeating Davis Love III in a playoff to claim his first oversized cheque of $297,000.
Tiger Woods the centre of attention in capturing a maiden PGA Tour event in just his fifth event as a pro – 1996 Las Vegas Invitational. Image AP
10. Woods is the only player to have won all four professional major championships in a row, accomplishing the feat in the 2000–2001 seasons. This feat became known as the “Tiger Slam”.
11. Woods’ 50th appearance in a major championship was capturing the 2007 US Open, winning by two shots at Southern Hills in Tusla, Oklahoma. It was also Woods 13th career major.
12. That 2007 US Open was the first time Woods had won a tournament as a father. “Well, it’s a feeling I’ve never had before, having Sam (Samantha) there and having Elin there it feels a lot more special when you have your family there. And it used to be my mom and dad”, said Woods.
“And now Elin and now we have our own daughter. “So, it’s evolved, and this one feels so much more special than the other majors. The British Open last year was different, but this one was certainly so special and so right to have Elin and Sam there. I wasn’t really paying attention when I saw them. I was so excited and just want to give Elin and Sam a kiss and get back to signing my score card.”
13. Woods won a 14th major the following year at the 2008 US Open.
Tiger Woods shows his joy defeating Rocco Mediate to win the 2008 US OPen at Torrey Pines. Image Getty
14. Those expecting a 15th major had to wait a further 29 majors, and over the course of 11 years including 2016 and 2027 when he was sidelined through injury, before an emotional 15th major at the 2019 Masters.
15. Woods has currently contested 96 majors up to and including his last event being in missing the halfway cut at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.
16. Woods last ‘regular’ tournament victory was his 82nd Tour win in October 2019 at the ZoZo Championship. Woods teed-up in Japan coming off a nine-week break after surgery to repair minor cartilage damage in his left knee and despite an inauspicious start, he rattled off a tournament-best 27 birdies and won the inaugural PGA Tour tournament and tie Sam Snead with 82 career Tour titles.
17. Woods remains 14–1 when going into the final round of a major with at least a share of the lead. Multiple golf experts have heralded Woods as “the greatest closer in history”. He has the lowest career scoring average and the largest career earnings of any player in PGA Tour history.
18. Woods marked his 100th event as a professional in superb manner, with a win at the 100th edition of the U.S. Open in 2000. Woods, then aged just 24, left onlookers and his competitors in awe at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the spectacular theatre along the California coastline. “What he did at Pebble Beach is still the greatest performance in golf of all time,” said five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, who tied for 16th that year.
Tiger Woods wins the 100th hosting of the US Open with victory in the 2000 US OPen. Image San Francisco Cronicle
19. Woods then marked his 200th PGA Tour start in 2006 while his victory at the 2013 Players Championship als marked a win in his 300th PGA Tour start.
20. Woods has spent the most consecutive and cumulative weeks (281) atop the world rankings and also the most total weeks at World No. 1 (683).
21. He is now one of six players (along with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Rory McIlroy) to have won all four major championships in his career, known as the Career Grand Slam, and was the youngest to do so.
22. Woods also is the only player to have consecutively won all four major championships open to professionals, accomplishing the feat in the 2000–2001 seasons.
23. Woods leaves then World No. 2 ranked Colin Montgomerie memorised in heading to the final round of the 1997 Masters.
Monty had commented to the media post the second day at Augusta that he considered his overall experience in competing in the Majors would prove pivotal teeing up on day three alongside a 21-year old contesting his first Major as a pro.
How wrong Monty was with Woods blowing the Scot off the course, shooting 65 to move to 15-under par and nine shots clear of Costantino Rocca in second place and with Monty posting a 74 to be sharing fourth spot at a distant 3-under.
“It’s the easiest, easiest 65 I’ve ever seen shot, and it opened my eyes and opened the world’s eyes to this golfer we haven’t seen the likes of before. Incredible phenomena and it was proven so”.
Woods won his maiden major by an unheard of 12 shots, a first of five Masters victories.
24. Woods reveals, he’s never ridden a motorcyle.
Tiger Woods astride a Hero motor bike and photographed with Heo company chairman, Dr. Pawan Munjal. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Tiger Woods was actually sitting astride a Hero motorcyle as part of a Tiger Woods Foundation and Hero Moto Corp photo shoot in September 2014 to promote Hero signing a mult-million dollar, four-year deal as the new company sponsor of the Woods hosted Hero World Challenge.
The then World No. 24 ranked Woods was ending a four-month injury lay-off to contest just his ninth event that year in the 18-man event at the Lake Nona club in Orlando
Hero had sold some 6.3m motor cycles alone in the past 2013/14 financial year and with Woods smiling when cheekily quizzed by GolfByTourMiss if he had ever ridden a motorcyle.
Woods’ response was priceless and goes down as one of the best question-and-answer ever put to Tiger.
“I’ve never ridden a motor cycle before and even with Hero’s valuable sponsorship this year and for the next three years, there’s no way I’m about to start.”
25. Woods: “I’ve talked to Bernie about it, and that’s it.” The scene was the the lavish ballroom of the Maxx Royal Hotel and the day prior to the commencement of the Turkish Airlines Open.
It was 2013 and your author had spoken to Tiger Woods just over a week earlier about the controversy involving the Brandel Chamblee after he criticized the 14-time Major Champion in an article by saying Woods had been ‘a little cavalier with the rules’ and thus gave Woods an ‘F’ grade for his 2013 season.
Nobody had spoken to Woods spoke until this with author caught-up with Tiger just moments before he teed off the his Match at Mission Hills showdown with Rory McIlroy at Haikou on Hainan Island.
“All I am going to say is that I know I am going forward but then I don’t know what the Golf Channel is going to do or not so then that is up to them,” said Woods.
“The whole issue has been very disappointing as he (Chamblee) didn’t really apologise and he sort of reignited the whole situation.
“But so as far as I am concerned I’m going to put it behind me and move forward, so the ball really is in the court of the Golf Channel and what are they are prepared to do.”
The following week Woods travelled via a fuel stop in Alaska to Turkey to tee-up in the maiden Turkish Airlines Open.
Woods attended a pre-tournament press conference and there in the official hotel ballroom, full of Turkish Government officials, sponsors, Tour officials, the world’s media including around 20 TV cameras Woods was asked by a colleague if he had received a personal apology from Chamblee.
Woods responded: “Well, I’ve said everything I am going to say. I talked to Bernie about it when I was in Hainan Island, and that’s it.”
26. Tiger? What’s your favourite McDonald’s meal? It was the week of 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic being staged on the Alpine Golf and Country Club course in steamy Thailand.
Tiger Woods wins 2000 Johnnie Walker Championship after a young Thai golfer asks Woods what is his favourite McDonald’s meal. Image Getty
Woods had visited the country of his mother’s birth twice before and winning both times – He first won the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1998 on Thailand’s Phuket Island, and in 1997 he claimed the Asian Honda Classic in Bangkok.
Ahead of this 2000 Johnnie Walker, Woods hosted a junior clinic and as he had done at the ’98 Johnnie Walker. Of course, it’s always customary for the youngsters to ask questions of the clinic host.
However, Woods clearly wasn’t expecting the McDonald’s question from a young lad and with Woods breaking out in big smile while others, including your author and many others, breaking-out in laughter at the question asked. The only disappointment to this story is that I can’t remember what was Woods’ response.
Though I have on record his response four days later in winning the event for a second time, and also secure a 10th worldwide victory in season 200o.
“It’s special any time I can come back to my mom’s country and win. I had a lot of family and friends out there,” said Woods.
27. Woods was asked also some years back while competing on the DP World Tour is there a tournament he haven’t won and that was still on his list still to win.
Woods responded: “Great question”.
Q. Member of the media then remarked: “Riviera?”
TIGER WOODS: “I won a junior event there. Does that count? It does to me”.
We’ve repoted he made his PGA Tour debut as a 16-year-old at the 1992 Nissan Los Angeles Open at the Riviera course at Pacific Palisades. He posted rounds of 72 and 75 to miss the halfway cut.
Since turning pro and then also becoming the tournament host, Woods still has not captured the event, nor for that matter did Jack Nicklaus.
28. It was November, 2021 and Tiger Woods was guest in the media centre and the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. TourMiss has the final three questions.
Earlier in the year, Woods had been involved in a very serious car accident post the Genesia Invitational in suburban LA. and while not competing in the Bahamas, he was in attendance at tournament host.
It was a first press conference since his accident and with Woods handling some 35 questions but without giving too much away.
Golf.com’s Michael Bamberger reported on that November 30th day: The final three-sentence question at the Albany press conference came from Fatihá Sahnoune, a French golf writer. Her second sentence contained one of the most original questions ever posed to Woods. Her third sentence gave Woods the out he seized.
“You expressed your body pain before. Could you express your mind feelings? And in the meantime, could you explain to us the goal of your foundation for the future?”
Woods skipped right past “mind feelings.” He did speak about his foundation work. He showed at other times his commitment to the education of kids in need. In the Golf Digest interview, he seemed to enjoy the opportunity to talk about his efforts to help his son with his own golf-course mind feelings.
“Right now, we’re at two million youths served,” Woods said. “I think we can do more.”
29. Fore, please. Woods now hitting from Asia into Europe. It was November 2013 and as part of the inagural hosting of the Turkish Airlines Open, a publicity stunt was arranged for Woods to hit a golf ball, in very breezy conditons, off the middle of the famed Bosphorus Bridge that links Turkey in Asia.
Traffic is stopped as Tiger Woods standing on round disk (bottom left of image) hitting off the road deck of the Bosphorous Brige. Image Getty
It was another of those bizarre moments that you often only see in golf and with Woods no doubt paid hamsomely to his this first shot’
“I’ve hit balls down runways at airports before but never down a bridge,” he said. “And the scary part was, I just flew in from a 12-hour journey, hopped off a plane and had to hit driver down the narrowest fairway I’ve ever seen.
“The wind was coming off the left a little bit and all these cars were driving on the right, so if I lose any balls to the right, there’s an international incident right there. So that was a little nerve-wracking.
“Trust me, every ball drew. It was pretty cool. I think somebody was telling me I hit one 550 metres (601 yards) or something like that, so not bad.”
Not too sure what those motorised felt who may have ended-up being late for an appointment or whatever.
30. It was 23-yeas after Woods won a first PGA Tour title in just his fifth event as a pro at the 1996 at Walt Disney/Oldsmobile Classic.
Just over 23-years since capturing a maiden PGA Tour title and Tiger Woods wins an 82nd victory at the 2019 ZoZo Championship. Image Getty
Then some 23-years later and in his 359th Tour start, Woods went wire-to-wire to catpure the inaugural 2019 Zozo Championship in Japan. The effort was Woods’ 82nd Tour victory thus matching Sam Snead’s record.
“Well, it’s a big number,” Woods said of his 82nd victory. “It’s about consistency and doing it for a long period of time. … I’m very fortunate to have had the career I’ve had so far.”
31. Woods fired off a question. the like I’d never, ever been asked by a golfer (smiling).
Tiger Woods and Bernie during 2012 Duel at Lake Jinsha in China. Image – Eoin Clarke.
