Black History Month Spotlight: Tiger Woods
Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their role in U.S. history. This week we are honoring distinguished golfer Tiger Woods.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their role in U.S. history. This week we are honoring distinguished golfer Tiger Woods.
Eldrick Tont Woods, nicknamed “Tiger,” by his father, is considered to be one of the most accomplished professional golfers of all time and enjoyed one of the most prolific amateur careers ever.
An Orange Country, California native, Woods quickly became one of the best golfers in the world at a young age. Stories of his training exercises to improve his mental toughness and focus as a small child have since become legendary. For example, it has been said that Woods’ father would loudly drop his golf bag on the ground while Tiger was mid-swing to test his ability to concentrate on the ball.
The training paid off in a big way.
As a 9-year-old, he appeared on national television to putt against comedian Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show. Woods showed even more promise on the links, winning the Junior World Championships six times.
Continuing his success into his teenage years, Woods won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in three straight years and became the youngest winner ever at the U.S. Amateur Championship. At Stanford University, one of the nation’s top collegiate powers in golf, Woods earned an individual NCAA title before turning pro as a 20-year-old. By the time he joined the PGA Tour, he had won a staggering 21 amateur tournaments.
For his sensational efforts, Woods was a finalist for the 67th James E. Sullivan Award, given annually to the nation’s top amateur athlete, in 1996.
Entering the pro ranks as one of the most exciting young professionals in golf, Woods signed lucrative sponsorship deals and backed them up with his strong play on the biggest stages in the sport. He was just 21-years-old and fresh off his first Masters victory when he ascended to the top of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Since turning pro, Woods has since gone on to win PGA Player of the Year a record 11 times, 15 major tournaments, 82 PGA Tour tournaments and has spent 683 total weeks as the top-ranked player in the world.
After his dramatic and memorable win at the 2019 Masters, his first major championship in 11 years, Woods was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
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The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been given out since 1930 to the nation’s best amateur athlete. The award salutes the founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award goes beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.
On April 21, 2020, the AAU will crown the 90th recipient of this prestigious award during a ceremony at the historic New York Athletic Club.
For more information on the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, visit aausullivan.org.
Eldrick Tont Woods, nicknamed “Tiger,” by his father, is considered to be one of the most accomplished professional golfers of all time and enjoyed one of the most prolific amateur careers ever.
An Orange Country, California native, Woods quickly became one of the best golfers in the world at a young age. Stories of his training exercises to improve his mental toughness and focus as a small child have since become legendary. For example, it has been said that Woods’ father would loudly drop his golf bag on the ground while Tiger was mid-swing to test his ability to concentrate on the ball.
The training paid off in a big way.
As a 9-year-old, he appeared on national television to putt against comedian Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show. Woods showed even more promise on the links, winning the Junior World Championships six times.
Continuing his success into his teenage years, Woods won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in three straight years and became the youngest winner ever at the U.S. Amateur Championship. At Stanford University, one of the nation’s top collegiate powers in golf, Woods earned an individual NCAA title before turning pro as a 20-year-old. By the time he joined the PGA Tour, he had won a staggering 21 amateur tournaments.
For his sensational efforts, Woods was a finalist for the 67th James E. Sullivan Award, given annually to the nation’s top amateur athlete, in 1996.
Entering the pro ranks as one of the most exciting young professionals in golf, Woods signed lucrative sponsorship deals and backed them up with his strong play on the biggest stages in the sport. He was just 21-years-old and fresh off his first Masters victory when he ascended to the top of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Since turning pro, Woods has since gone on to win PGA Player of the Year a record 11 times, 15 major tournaments, 82 PGA Tour tournaments and has spent 683 total weeks as the top-ranked player in the world.
After his dramatic and memorable win at the 2019 Masters, his first major championship in 11 years, Woods was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
###
The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been given out since 1930 to the nation’s best amateur athlete. The award salutes the founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award goes beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.
On April 21, 2020, the AAU will crown the 90th recipient of this prestigious award during a ceremony at the historic New York Athletic Club.
For more information on the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, visit aausullivan.org.
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