Is there a name more synonymous with golf than Tiger Woods? With 15 Majors and an incredible 13 years atop the sport’s world rankings, Tiger Woods’ name has grown beyond the perimeters of his sport. However, it’s funny to think that Tiger hasn’t always been known as, well, Tiger.

Born in the warm climate of California in 1975, Tiger’s parents, Kutilda and Earl, took inspiration from their own names when they provided Tiger with his original name. From birth, before he became the Tiger Woods we know today, he was known as Eldrick Tont Woods. The unusual moniker began with the first letter of Tiger’s father’s name and concluded with the first letter of his mother’s name.

Tont, which translates to ‘firstborn’ or ‘beginning’ in Thai, is a nod to Kutilda’s heritage. She was originally from Thailand, where she and Earl met in 1968 when he was on a tour of duty. And it is in Earl’s military heritage where Tiger’s iconic adopted name originates.

Why Tiger Woods is Called Tiger

It’s not his real name, but there’s a reason behind it

During his time in the army, Earl developed a close bond with Colonel Vuong Dang Phong, known as ‘Tiger’ to those who knew him well. As a tribute to his old army buddy, Earl began calling his son ‘Tiger’ in the hopes that it would lead to a reunion between them. Sadly, Phong passed away before they could be reunited. However, Earl believed that his friend would have been so proud and taken aback by Tiger’s achievements in the world of golf.

“Phong would be totally flabbergasted by Tiger, completely blown away. He would view him as his own son,” Earl said in an interview with Golf Digest. “He wouldn’t know a damned thing about golf, but it wouldn’t be necessary. He would be so proud and so happy.”

Tiger Woods Used to be Called Sam

Tiger has revealed before why he dad used to call him Sam

As if two names weren’t enough, Tiger revealed that there was another name that his father called him by. Stranger still, Earl rarely used the name ‘Tiger’ to address his son.

“My father had always called me Sam since the day I was born,” he said, speaking to the Augusta Chronicle. “I would ask him, ‘Why don’t you ever call me Tiger?’ He said, ‘Well, you look more like a Sam’, I said, ‘All right, that’s cool.'”

With his own firstborn, Tiger has continued the traditions set by his father. His first child, a daughter, was born on the 18th of June 2007, and Tiger and his now ex-wife, Elin, didn’t need to look far to find a fitting name. The couple named her Sam Alexis Woods, in memory of Tiger’s father.

“We wanted to have a name that would be meaningful to either side of the family, my side or Elin’s side,” revealed Tiger at a press conference for the AT&T National shortly after his daughter’s birth. “Because she was born [the day after] Father’s Day. It just happened to fit.”

Tiger’s second child, a son named Charlie, is following in his footsteps. Charlie entered the Cognizant Classic, his first pre-qualifying tournament for a PGA Tour event, in February of last year.

TIGER WOODS’ world ranking has taken a nosedive after his latest injury.

The 15-time Major winner ruptured his Achilles earlier this year as he plotted a Masters comeback.

Woods has not played since missing the cut at The Open last July.

The 49-year-old’s newest ranking was revealed over the weekend – and it’s grim reading for the golf icon.

Woods has slumped to his worst-ever world ranking as he grapples with his latest injury woes.

Tiger came in at No.1341, beating his previous low of 1,328th in November 2023.

Woods almost lost his leg in a serious car accident in 2021.

He required surgery on his knee, ankle and back after the horror crash in Florida.

Woods missed last month’s Masters after his Achilles tear was confirmed in March.

Writing on Instagram, Tiger explained: “As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured.

“This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon.

“I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.”

Tiger Woods Ex-Caddie Reveals Shocking Details: ‘No Time for Celebration Between Majors’

Tiger Woods, the golf legend known for his relentless pursuit of greatness, has been exposed in a candid interview with his former caddie, Steve Williams. Williams revealed the intense and demanding nature of working with Woods, shedding light on the lack of celebration and rest between major tournaments.

In a recent podcast interview, Williams disclosed that Woods was singularly focused on surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles, with aspirations even higher. The duo had their sights set on achieving not just 19 or 20 but a staggering 21 major victories. This unyielding drive left no room for moments of pride or celebration after triumphs.

Williams recounted an incident after Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by a remarkable 15 shots at Pebble Beach. Instead of basking in the glory of the victory, Woods immediately shifted his attention to the next tournament, instructing Williams to prepare for the upcoming challenge at St Andrews. Celebrations were minimal in Woods’ world, with the focus always on continuous improvement and pushing boundaries.

Despite their success together, Woods’ career hit a low point in 2024 when he finished 16 over par at the Masters Tournament, marking his lowest score in a major. Ongoing physical issues, including a surgery to repair a damaged Achilles tendon in 2025, have added to Woods’ challenges. However, his determination to make a comeback in 2025 showcases his unwavering commitment to the sport.

The revelations from Williams provide a glimpse into the intense and uncompromising mindset of Tiger Woods, highlighting the sacrifices and dedication required to pursue excellence at the highest level of professional golf. As Woods continues to battle adversity, his story serves as a testament to resilience and the enduring pursuit of greatness in the face of obstacles.

Despite an April Fools joke posted to his social media, Tiger Woods will not be playing at The Masters this week.

Woods is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles injury that he suffered while training at his home earlier this year. He had surgery for the injury on March 11 and likely won’t play golf for at least half a year.

Woods leaned into the jokester spirit last week and posted to X that he’d be playing in the Masters after a quick recovery process.

He shortly after revealed it was an April Fools joke and his recovery is still on-going.

With his injury, Woods will miss the chance to secure his sixth Masters victory. He currently has the second most wins of the tournament with five victories.

Woods is etched into the history books at Augusta National, staking claim as the youngest champion (1997) and second-oldest champion (2019) in tournament history.

Let’s take a look at Woods’ history at The Masters.

Is Tiger Woods competing in the 2025 Masters Tournament?

No, Woods ruptured his Achilles and had surgery in March. He’ll likely be sidelined for at least half a year.

How many times has Tiger Woods won The Masters?

Tiger Woods has won the Masters five times in his career: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019. It’s the second most tournament victories of all time behind Jack Nicklaus.

1997: Woods becomes youngest champion in tournament history

Woods won the tournament as a 21-year-old, making him the youngest champion in the history of the tournament.

2001: Woods double-dips to become a two-time champion

Four years after his victory as the youngest person ever to win the tournament he added more history, joining a shortlist of golfers to have multiple wins at The Masters.

As of 2025, only 18 golfers have two or more wins at the tournament.

2002: Woods goes back-to-back and earns third victory at Masters

At the time, Woods became the seventh person to win three or more Masters tournaments. It’s a feat that only eight golfers have achieved all-time.

2005: Woods wins his fourth thanks to low scoring middle rounds

Woods shot 66 in the second round and tied a personal tournament low of 65 in the third round to win his fourth Masters tournament.

It was the second time he shot 65 in Augusta, matching his third round score from his first tournament win in 1997.

2019: Woods wins fifth Masters after 14 years in between tournament victories

Woods was able to don the green jacket once again after 14 years without winning the Masters.

Tiger Woods caused some debate when he was asked who his Mount Rushmore of golf would be. Woods mentioned himself and Jack Nicklaus, which wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, but the other two on his list might raise some eyebrows.

Although it may seem big-headed to name yourself as one of the greatest golfers in history, it can’t be denied when it comes to Tiger Woods. With 82 official PGA Tour event wins, which is tied for the most of any golfer, and 15 Major wins, second only behind the aforementioned Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods is an easy selection, even for himself. The American burst onto the scene aged 21 when he won his first Major, the 1997 Masters, which he won by an incredible 12 strokes. He then reached number 1 in the official world golf rankings less than a year after turning pro. At the age of only 24, he became the youngest golfer to win a career Grand Slam, which means winning all the four Majors.

Tiger Woods had to pick the only man with more Major wins than him, Jack Nicklaus, who won 18 in an illustrious career, three more than Woods. After finishing second to another great, Arnold Palmer, in the 1960 US Open as an amateur, Nicklaus turned pro in 1961 and won the 1962 US Open, this time defeating Palmer. Nicklaus dominated golf throughout the 1960s and 70s and was partly responsible for the sport’s growth during this period as part of ‘The Big Three’ alongside Palmer and Gary Player.

Tiger Woods’ Picks Alongside Himself & Jack Nicklaus

Plenty of big names missed out

However, Woods’ next pick was a bit of a surprise. Bobby Jones, who many won’t be aware of, was an American golfer whose success dates back to the 1920s. Jones is famous for being an amateur, but still often beat the top professionals of that era, and also for founding the Augusta National Golf Club, which is still used every year for the Masters tournament. Although Jones doesn’t have the victories that both Woods and Nicklaus have, with ‘only’ seven Major championships at the time of his retirement, he was aged only 28.

Woods’ other pick for a place on golf’s Mount Rushmore was perhaps another surprising one. Sam Snead competed in the 1940s and 50s with a joint record 82 PGA Tour victories to his name, including seven wins and multiple second places in Major championships. He was a class act. Famed for his relaxed manner, which included wearing a straw hat and quirky commentary on the course, Snead was admired for having the perfect swing, which many have tried to imitate since. Many golfers have commented on Snead’s ability, with Bill Campbell saying: “He was the best natural player ever.”

With players like the aforementioned Palmer and Player missing, among others like Ben Hogan and Walter Hagen, it does open up a debate about who the greatest golfers in history are.

Tiger Woods caused some debate when he was asked who his Mount Rushmore of golf would be. Woods mentioned himself and Jack Nicklaus, which wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, but the other two on his list might raise some eyebrows.

Although it may seem big-headed to name yourself as one of the greatest golfers in history, it can’t be denied when it comes to Tiger Woods. With 82 official PGA Tour event wins, which is tied for the most of any golfer, and 15 Major wins, second only behind the aforementioned Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods is an easy selection, even for himself. The American burst onto the scene aged 21 when he won his first Major, the 1997 Masters, which he won by an incredible 12 strokes. He then reached number 1 in the official world golf rankings less than a year after turning pro. At the age of only 24, he became the youngest golfer to win a career Grand Slam, which means winning all the four Majors.

Tiger Woods had to pick the only man with more Major wins than him, Jack Nicklaus, who won 18 in an illustrious career, three more than Woods. After finishing second to another great, Arnold Palmer, in the 1960 US Open as an amateur, Nicklaus turned pro in 1961 and won the 1962 US Open, this time defeating Palmer. Nicklaus dominated golf throughout the 1960s and 70s and was partly responsible for the sport’s growth during this period as part of ‘The Big Three’ alongside Palmer and Gary Player.

Tiger Woods’ Picks Alongside Himself & Jack Nicklaus

Plenty of big names missed out

However, Woods’ next pick was a bit of a surprise. Bobby Jones, who many won’t be aware of, was an American golfer whose success dates back to the 1920s. Jones is famous for being an amateur, but still often beat the top professionals of that era, and also for founding the Augusta National Golf Club, which is still used every year for the Masters tournament. Although Jones doesn’t have the victories that both Woods and Nicklaus have, with ‘only’ seven Major championships at the time of his retirement, he was aged only 28.

Woods’ other pick for a place on golf’s Mount Rushmore was perhaps another surprising one. Sam Snead competed in the 1940s and 50s with a joint record 82 PGA Tour victories to his name, including seven wins and multiple second places in Major championships. He was a class act. Famed for his relaxed manner, which included wearing a straw hat and quirky commentary on the course, Snead was admired for having the perfect swing, which many have tried to imitate since. Many golfers have commented on Snead’s ability, with Bill Campbell saying: “He was the best natural player ever.”

With players like the aforementioned Palmer and Player missing, among others like Ben Hogan and Walter Hagen, it does open up a debate about who the greatest golfers in history are.