How Tiger Woods Changed The Game Of Golf

Once in a while, an athlete emerges who is so influential that they change the trajectory of a sport. For golf, that athlete was Tiger Woods. He brought enormous attention to the game, causing the prize money for golf tournaments to double and changing the perception of the sport. But how did he accomplish this?

Before Tiger Woods, golf was seen as a sport for older individuals, with the average age of top players being above 30 years old, typically associated with the end of a career in most sports. Its low impact on the body attracted the older generation. However, Tiger took a different approach, seeing himself as an athlete. In a surprising decision, he left Stanford University at 20 to become a professional golfer and ended up winning his first title at 21.

Tiger's success can be attributed to treating golf as a real sport, analyzing his play, and working to improve daily while working out to ensure he was in the best shape possible. This approach made a significant difference, resulting in him dominating the sport over the next few years and becoming the only player to hold the four Grand Slams of Golf simultaneously. He also changed the sport's popularity, attracting a younger generation and sponsors.

Today, golfers are seen as athletes like those in any other sport, with the average age of top players being closer to what is found in other sports (28). But it took Tiger Woods' courage to take the leap and take golf seriously from a young age to leverage that opportunity. Finding your purpose early on can lead to impressive results.

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