At the tender age of eight, young Tiger Woods broke 80 in golf, a fete that most golfers only dream about their entire lives. The budding star broke 70 aged 12 years, and it has been a record-breaking streak ever since. Tiger scooped his first major, the 1997 Masters, aged 21 years, barely a year after turning pro in 1996. It all goes to show the impact of early preparation for a child and how early grooming can contribute to your kids’ future success. Although your child may take on a completely different career path from what you have in mind, it’s your responsibility as a parent to provide the necessary support and opportunities.
For Tiger Woods, the push came from his soldier dad Earl Woods. The senior Woods was a navy seal in the US army, and his military privileges granted him access to state-of-the-art courses where young Tiger would tag along. It was not long before Earl discovered his son’s enigmatic golf passion and skill and sought professional help to mold Tiger into the global superstar we know today. The efforts bore fruit and then some, with Tiger scooping almost every other junior and amateur trophy he could lay his hands on. As a pro, the World Golf Hall of Fame inductee has broken almost every other record possible, tying for first in most PGA Tour wins and maintaining the world number one spot for the most consecutive weeks.
Enter Tiger’s Son, Charlie Woods
The tables have now turned, and it’s Tiger’s chance to provide his son Charlie Woods the same mentorship he received from his father. The young Charlie was born into a golf household in 2009, especially at a point when his dad was arguably the most famous athlete on the planet. Tiger dominated the first decade of the 21st century on the course and career earnings, emerging as the Sportsman of the Year multiple times and being the highest-paid sports personality. Unfortunately for Charlie, his parents divorced in 2010 after a much-publicized scandal that threatened to separate him from his superstar golfer dad.