The golf legend, Tiger Woods, celebrates his 50th birthday this Tuesday, marking a before and after in the history of this sport. His career, characterized by a combination of unprecedented success and personal challenges, has left an indelible mark on the world of golf.
A Legacy That Transcends Sport
Woods revolutionized golf, expanding its global reach and transforming it into a cultural phenomenon. Despite injuries and scandals, he remains an iconic figure and the most recognized golfer of his generation.
The American, who has been out of the competitive elite due to an Achilles tendon injury and back surgery, could compete on the PGA Tour Champions from this age.
“I’ll probably play about 25 tournaments between both circuits and that should cover most of the year, right?”, he joked weeks ago.
Tiger Woods
His last professional appearance was in July 2024, at the British Open.
- 15 ‘major’ titles
- 82 PGA Tour wins
- 683 weeks as world number one
- 142 consecutive tournaments making the cut
His aggressive and dominant style redefined modern golf. One of his most memorable triumphs was the 1999 PGA Championship.
Woods turned golf into a global spectacle, boosting audiences and unprecedented advertising contracts. His relationship with Nike, which lasted more than two decades, made him the image of golf and generated a fortune of over $1 billion.
Challenges and Key Moments
The year 2009 marked a turning point with a car accident and a scandal of infidelities that affected his career. Since then, he has only won one ‘major’, the 2019 Masters of Augusta.
In 2017, he was arrested for driving under the influence of substances and in 2021 he suffered a serious traffic accident that limited his participation in the circuit.
Recently, he has been linked to the Trump family.
A New Role in Professional Golf
Woods has been appointed chairman of the PGA Tour’s Future Competition Committee, with the aim of modernizing the circuit and facing the challenge of LIV Golf.
With changes planned for 2027, Woods leads an effort to revitalize the PGA after the departure of important figures. His authority and legacy make him a central piece in defending the traditional model of professional golf.
At 50 years old, Tiger Woods continues to influence the sport he transformed forever, even away from the green.
