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Sports

Tiger Woods

Watched from a high chair as his father hit balls into a garage net; putting on national TV at two.

Tiger Woods was born in 1975 in Cypress, California, US. Tiger Woods's background is described as Black, Thai, Chinese, Native American, and Dutch descent — his own coinage: "Cablinasian". Growing up, the family was middle class — his father was a Green Beret Vietnam veteran, his mother a Thai immigrant; a disciplined single-child household built around his golf. Watched from a high chair as his father hit balls into a garage net; putting on national TV at two.

Born
1975 · Cypress, California, US
Roots
Black, Thai, Chinese, Native American, and Dutch descent — his own coinage: "Cablinasian"
Family
Middle class
His father was a Green Beret Vietnam veteran, his mother a Thai immigrant; a disciplined single-child household built around his golf.
Education
Stanford University (left after two years to turn professional)
Started with
A garage high chair
Watched his father hit balls into a net before he could walk; he putted against Bob Hope on TV at two.
Affiliations & societies
None documented.
Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

  1. 1996 · age 20
    "Hello, world"$40M

    Turns professional; Nike signs him before his first pro round.

  2. 1997 · age 21
    The Masters by 12 strokes

    The youngest champion, and the first of Black or Asian descent, at a club that admitted its first Black member in 1990.

  3. 2001 · age 25
    The Tiger Slam

    Holds all four major titles at once — the only player to do so in the modern era.

  4. 2008 · age 32
    A US Open on a broken leg

    Wins a 91-hole playoff on a double stress fracture and a torn ACL.

  5. 2009 · age 33
    The scandal

    A Thanksgiving-night crash unravels into infidelity revelations, sponsor exits, and divorce; his ranking collapses in the injury years that follow.

  6. 2019 · age 43
    The comeback Masters

    A fifth green jacket, eleven years after his previous major and two years after spinal-fusion surgery.

  7. 2021 · age 45
    Nearly loses a leg

    A single-car rollover; he returns only for limited appearances.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Tiger Woods from?

Tiger Woods was born in 1975 in Cypress, California, US. Their background is described as Black, Thai, Chinese, Native American, and Dutch descent — his own coinage: "Cablinasian".

When was Tiger Woods born?

Tiger Woods was born in 1975, in Cypress, California, US.

What is Tiger Woods's background or ethnicity?

Tiger Woods's roots are described as Black, Thai, Chinese, Native American, and Dutch descent — his own coinage: "Cablinasian". These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.

Where did Tiger Woods go to school?

Tiger Woods's education: Stanford University (left after two years to turn professional).

What was Tiger Woods's family background growing up?

At birth the family was middle class. His father was a Green Beret Vietnam veteran, his mother a Thai immigrant; a disciplined single-child household built around his golf.

How did Tiger Woods get started?

Tiger Woods started with a garage high chair. Watched his father hit balls into a net before he could walk; he putted against Bob Hope on TV at two.

Sources

Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.