Tiger Woods Entered the Spotlight at Age 2 and Never Left: A Top 50 Countdown

On Dec. 30, Tiger Woods turns 50 years old. To honor the moment, and Woods's life and career, Cheap Rs-flyfishing Jordan Outlet Golf will look back at all of it and rank his top 50 defining moments—including incredible triumphs and big business deals, on-course defeats, injuries and, yes, even the scandals.

Yesterday November 3, 2025. Today we continue with more highs and lows from a golf life and career like no other. With that, here's Nos. 40-31 on our list.

No. 40: Appears on the Mike Douglas Show at age 2

In 1978, at age 2, Tiger made his first appearance on national television, going on the Mike Douglas show along with his father, Earl. They were joined by comedian Bob Hope, along with actor Jimmy Stewart. As part of the show, Tiger hit a tee shot to loud applause. — Bob Harig

No. 39: Epic bunker shot at the 2000 Bell Canadian Open

Woods’s career is littered with highlight-reel shots that are scattered throughout YouTube and today’s social media channels. But his 6-iron from 213 yards, from the center of a fairway bunker, at the 2000 Canadian Open really is an all-timer. “Does it get any better than this?” screams the TV broadcast as Woods’s ball settles on the back of the green.

Woods went on to win the event for his ninth title of the season. And to answer the commentator’s question: No, I’m not sure it ever did get better than that. — Jeff Ritter

No. 38: Wins third straight U.S. Junior in 1993

Woods built a reputation for coming up clutch long before he turned professional. At age 16, he won a historic third U.S. Junior, becoming the only player to win three straight, when he came from two holes down to tie Ryan Armour and then defeat him in extra holes. Woods birdied each of the last two holes then won the match on the first playoff hole at Waverly Country Club in Oregon. — Bob Harig

No. 37: Walk-off birdie at 2009 Arnold Palmer for first title since knee surgery

Just days after his iconic win at the 2008 U.S. Open (spoiler alert: that's going to crack the Top 10 in our countdown), Woods had surgery on his torn ACL—and that was on top of left knee surgery after the Masters two months prior, which led to the fractured tibia on which he hobbled around Torrey Pines. So he understandably shut it down for the rest of 2008 and did not play again until a pair of World Golf Championships in March 2009.

Then in April, Tiger returned to one of his favorite lairs—Bay Hill Club, where he had won five times previously. A final-hole birdie made it No. 6 in what NBC’s Dan Hicks called “a storybook comeback win.” — John Schwarb

No. 36: Misses all eight major championships in 2016-17

Two spinal fusion surgeries late in 2015 were an ominous sign and that is how it played out as Woods skipped all tournament golf in 2016 including all four major championships. It was the first time he had missed a major since skipping the Masters and U.S. Open in 2014. A comeback that began in late 2016 saw Woods play just three times, including a withdrawal from a tournament in Dubai after just one round. Woods hinted at spring comebacks but eventually had the spinal fusion surgery in April and missed all four majors in 2017 as well, not returning until the Hero World Challenge. — Bob Harig

No. 35: Spinal fusion surgery in 2017 leads to comeback

Under the cloak of darkness, Woods left the 2017 Champions Dinner at Augusta National in considerable pain and headed to London, where he consulted with specialists on how to deal with his back. The ultimate decision was to have a spinal fusion performed by Dr. Richard Guyer in Texas, a procedure with a six-month recovery.

Woods gave no timetable for a return but by the end of the year he started hitting balls and played at the Hero World Challenge. The following year, Woods played a full schedule on the PGA Tour, contended in two majors and won at the season-ending Tour Championship. — Bob Harig

No. 34: Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame

From the moment he sank the winning putt in the ’97 Masters, it was essentially a foregone conclusion Woods would one day be enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame. And nearly 25 years since his heroics in Augusta as a 21-year-old, that became a reality. At his induction, Woods spoke for 17 minutes while focusing on his upbringing, choking up when he mentioned the sacrifices his mother made, and his two children.

Woods was introduced by his daughter, Sam, who stole the show with a story about how, after losing the 2007 U.S. Open by a stroke, he rushed to the hospital for her birth. But she also sparked tears from Woods when she recalled his 2021 car crash, saying, “We didn’t know if you’d come home with two legs or not. Now not only are you about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’re standing here on your own two feet.” — Max Schreiber

No. 33: Makes an ace in his first pro tournament

The result of his first tournament was none too impressive—he tied for 60th and earned $2,544—but Woods did have a memorable moment regardless, making his first professional hole in one during the final round at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. From 202 yards, Woods hit a 6-iron on the 14th hole. Somewhat amazingly, Woods made “only” three aces in competition, one each in 1996, 1997 and 1998. — Bob Harig

No. 32: Bounces ball on his wedge in Nike commercial

For 27 years, Woods and Nike were perhaps the most synonymous partnership between an athlete and a brand. By just being Tiger Woods, he was the ultimate billboard for Nike’s golf products. Yet, there were so many indelible ad campaigns that Woods yielded: mdash; John Schwarb, multiple we unveiled part 1 of our series for Father’s Day during U.S. Opens and mdash; Max Schreiber flashing on the ball before dropping in the 16th hole at the ‘05 Masters.

But you can argue that none were as popular as the Hacky Sack commercials—which happened by accident. One day in 1999, Nike was shooting footage with Woods for an advertisement. Then, Eric Markgraf, an advertising director with Nike, noticed Woods bouncing a golf ball on his pitching wedge during some downtime. Realizing it was gold, they decided to film him doing it for 30 seconds, during which Woods switched hands, went in between his legs and concluded by hitting the ball in the air (that took a few takes). Before the social media era, golf trickery like that was unheard of. But like so much else, Woods helped make it mainstream as a cultural phenomenon. — Max Schreiber

No. 31: Destroys Stephen Ames at 2006 Match Play

In the first round of the 2006 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Woods drew journeyman Stephen Ames for his opponent. Before the match, Ames told reporters that he felt optimistic, saying, “Anything can happen, especially where he’s hitting it,” in reference to Woods’s recent ball-striking. Woods put that line in his mental Rolodex, played with fire and won every hole on the front nine to go 9 up, then halved the 10th to close out the win.

Asked afterward about his performance, Woods said simply, “9 and 8.” Nearly 20 years later, it remains a record match-play winning margin, and not much else needs to be said. — Jeff Ritter