[비즈한국] Golf emperor Tiger Woods has turned 50. He was born on December 30, 1975. It is truly hard to believe that Tiger Woods is already 50. At 50, he has reached the age where he can compete on the Senior Tour, or PGA Tour Champions. It is a true privilege to have lived in the same era as some of the greatest athletes. This is especially true given that we have lived alongside athletes who were not just called 'kings,' but 'emperors.' Even now, while LeBron James of the NBA, who still dominates the court as an active player, is called 'King,' Michael Jordan is known as the 'Basketball Emperor.' Arnold Palmer, the legend of golf, was also called 'King,' but he never ascended to the 'throne of the emperor' that Tiger Woods occupied.
Tiger Woods debuted as a professional in 1996 at the age of 21. This was two years after he dropped out of Stanford University, the alma mater of Michelle Wie, who once famously competed against another golf legend, Tom Watson. Years later, Tiger Woods would name not completing his college degree as one of his greatest regrets in life.
From the moment he appeared, Tiger Woods was, quite literally, a sensation. He won twice in his debut year, and in 1997, he became the youngest-ever champion at the Masters Tournament, a major event every professional golfer in the world dreams of winning. At 21 years and 105 days old, just past his youth, he lifted the most magnificent trophy on Earth, modeled after the Augusta National clubhouse. Since then, Tiger Woods has steadily stacked the title of 'winner' in front of his name every single year.
He is tied for first in all-time PGA Tour wins with 82, alongside Sam Snead, and sits second in major championships with 15, trailing only Jack Nicklaus. In truth, had it not been for the injuries and various incidents of the past decade, these numbers would have likely already surpassed several records. It is also surprising that, despite being an American player, he has 41 European Tour wins, placing him third all-time.
When discussing Tiger Woods, one can never leave out the 'records that will never be broken.' He won four consecutive major championships. After conquering the 2000 Open Championship, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship, he went on to win the first major of 2001, the Masters. Had he won them all in a single calendar year, it would have been a 'Calendar Grand Slam,' but this unprecedented feat remains known as the 'Tiger Slam.'
Tiger Woods held the world No. 1 ranking for a staggering 683 weeks. That means he remained at the top for 13 years. In the history of sports, has there ever been another athlete who defended such a lofty and precarious position for 13 years?
His wealth is also legendary. Tiger Woods' net worth is known to be around $1.3 billion. Among athletes, the only ones with assets exceeding $1 billion are Michael Jordan and LeBron James. However, Tiger Woods did not just earn money for himself. After his emergence, golf tournament prize money doubled every few years. Phil Mickelson, once called his rival, famously said, "Golfers make money because of Tiger. I do too."
It was also Tiger Woods who transformed golf from a 'gentleman's sport' into a dynamic 'box-office sport.' The TV viewership difference between tournaments where he competed and those where he did not was as high as 60%. His mere presence guaranteed success, a phenomenon dubbed the 'Tiger Effect.'
His influence was not limited to professional athletes. For weekend golfers, Tiger Woods was a powerful icon. His baseball cap, red shirt, and swing form were symbols that countless amateur golfers proudly emulated. To put it slightly hyperbolically, the history of golf is divided into before and after Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods' life as a golfer is also a history of struggle and overcoming adversity. It is said that his recent back surgery was his seventh; he has endured surgeries on his cruciate ligaments and Achilles tendon, suffered from plantar fasciitis, and survived a car accident that totaled his vehicle.
Tiger Woods turning 50 signals that the Tiger of his youth is fading away. Yet, there is still something we expect from him. We want to see him roar like a tiger one more time and perform his signature powerful uppercut celebration with his right hand. Even though he has already given us so much and left behind so much, the reason our expectations and lingering attachment remain is simple: because he is Tiger Woods.
About the author Kang Chan-wook: An advertiser and writer. He began his career as a copywriter at Cheil Worldwide and is currently the CEO of the video production company 'Sidae-ui Siseon' (Vision of the Era). An avid golfer, he holds a USGTF teaching professional certification. With a passion for writing, he has authored golf books such as 'The Joy of Golf,' 'Bad Golf,' 'Sincere Golf,' and 'Golf Thoughts, Thinking Golf.' He runs the YouTube channel 'Bad Golf,' where he shares various stories and thoughts about golf with readers and viewers.