After winning golf's US Junior Amateur titles from 1991 to 1993 and the US Amateur championship from 1994 to 1996, Tiger Woods joined the professional ranks in August 1996. He was only 20. He immediately set a standard of excellence that earned him a huge following.

After being named the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Rookie of the year in 1996, Woods went on to shock the world in 1997. In that year he became the youngest player ever to win the Masters, the most prestigious of golf's championships.

Woods opened many doors for golfers of color and broke the stereotype that non-whites could not excel in a sport such as golf. In addition, Tiger Woods' popularity is helping to change the "old-boy" codes that have kept non-whites out of many of the more exclusive golf clubs. Woods is one of the most exciting young players in Golf today.

Woods is the first player and youngest at 24 to win all four majors (British Open, U.S. Open, PGA Championship and the Masters.