How Old Was Tiger When He Went Pro

So, there I was, flipping through some old golf magazines the other day, and I stumbled upon a photo of a young Tiger Woods. I mean, he was barely old enough to drive, let alone swing a club like he was born with one in his hand. It got me thinking, just how old was Tiger when he went pro?

Now, I know what you're thinking, "Dude, it's not like he was a toddler with a tiny golf club." And you're right, but still, the guy was just a kid when he burst onto the scene and started giving the big guns a run for their money.

Tiger's Early Start

Let's rewind to the late 80s, when Eldrick "Tiger" Woods was just a little tyke, born on December 30, 1975. His dad, Earl, was a former Green Beret and a golf enthusiast who introduced Tiger to the sport at the ripe old age of two. By the time he was three, Tiger was already teeing off on a six-hole course designed by his dad in their backyard.

But it wasn't just about playing around. Tiger was serious about golf from the get-go. He appeared on national television at the age of two, hitting balls on the Mike Douglas Show. And at the age of five, he won his first tournament, the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. So, yeah, the kid was a natural, but he was still just a kid.

From Amateur to Pro

Tiger's amateur career was nothing short of extraordinary. He won three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles (1991-1993), the U.S. Amateur title in 1994 and 1995, and was the first golfer to win four consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles. He also won the NCAA individual championship in 1996 while playing for Stanford University.

But the big question remains, when did this young phenom decide to turn pro? Well, after winning his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title in 1995, Tiger announced that he would turn professional at the end of the following year. And so, on August 29, 1996, just a few days after his 20th birthday, Tiger Woods officially became a professional golfer.

Remembering Tiger's early days as a pro - PGA TOUR

Tiger's Impact

Now, I don't know about you, but I remember watching Tiger's first major tournament as a pro, the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. He didn't win that one, but he did finish in a tie for 60th place. Not bad for a kid who was still a few months away from his 21st birthday.

But it was his performance at the 1997 Masters that really put Tiger on the map. He won by a record 12 strokes, becoming the youngest Masters champion ever at the age of 21 years, 3 months, and 14 days. He also became the first African American to win a major championship since 1975. Talk about making an impact!

So, there you have it, folks. Tiger Woods was just 20 years old when he went pro, and he's been making waves in the golf world ever since. It's crazy to think that this kid, who was once swinging a club in his backyard, grew up to become one of the greatest golfers of all time. But then again, that's Tiger for you. Always ahead of the game.