Tiger Woods
A living golf legend
Tiger Woods has redefined golf with his unparalleled skill, resilience and enduring influence, making him one of the most celebrated athletes in history.
My ultimate achievement in golf was winning the four majors in a row… to be the first person ever to do that in the modern era was very special to me.
Tiger Woods
The most influential golfer of his generation
Tiger Woods is known for his extraordinary achievements, whose 15 major championship victories were among his 82 PGA TOUR® wins, tied for the most in history.
His impact on the game transcends his on-course accomplishments as he has played a key role in popularizing golf globally and inspiring the current generation of top players.
The Comeback King
Woods’ journey began at a very young age, displaying a prodigious talent that set him apart from his peers.
Before turning professional, he was one of the most accomplished amateur players ever, winning three U.S. Junior Amateur titles (1991, 1992 and 1993) and following up with a trio of U.S. Amateur titles (1994, 1995 and 1996). He turned professional in 1996 and quickly captured the golf world’s attention with his first major win at the 1997 Masters Tournament, where he set a record for the largest margin of victory, and at 21 years, three months and 14 days, remains the youngest winner to this day. Over the years, Woods has faced and overcome numerous challenges, including injuries, yet his determination and comeback victories, such as the 2019 Masters win, have only enhanced his legendary status.
Woods’ professional achievements are staggering: 82 PGA TOUR® victories (tied with Sam Snead), 15 major championships (second only to fellow Rolex Testimonee Jack Nicklaus) and a record 683 weeks as No. 1 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). His dominance reached its apex in the early 2000s with the “Tiger Slam” when he held all four major titles simultaneously across the 2000 and 2001 seasons. His influence has extended beyond mere statistics. The “Tiger Effect” meant more people wanted to watch golf – and see Woods play – resulting in the PGA TOUR® signing bigger broadcasting agreements than ever before, on prize money increasing exponentially and attendance records being set at tournaments as fans came in their thousands to watch him in person. He inspired a new generation of athletes to take up golf and is the reason why many of today’s modern players have made fitness – getting and staying in shape – a central part of their training regimen, beyond the work they do on the course, practice range and putting greens. Woods’ multicultural background and charismatic presence helped broaden golf’s appeal, making him one of the most recognizable and marketable athletes globally.
Despite facing debilitating injuries, including multiple back surgeries, Woods’ resilience has been evident in his comebacks, most notably his emotional victory at the 2019 Masters. His journey from child prodigy to global icon, and his ongoing legacy as he continues to compete at the highest level, cements Woods’ status not just as a golf legend, but as one of the most influential athletes in sporting history.
Off the course, in 1996 Woods set up his TGR Foundation with his late father Earl as a way to help improve the lives of young people from under-resourced communities. Education, which came first in Woods’ own upbringing, is at the core of the foundation’s mission and central to how its programmes make an impact.
Tiger Woods became a Rolex Testimonee in 2011.
Woods has been wearing a Rolex Deepsea for many years now, describing it as a representation of many aspects of his life. “My watch has been part of wins, of losses, part of adventures with my kids, individual adventures… When I’m not playing golf, I want to be in the ocean. Water has always been a part of my life. For all of this, I need a watch that is very reliable, that’s why for me the Rolex Deepsea is a natural fit.”