Tiger Woods was watching his father hit golf balls in their garage at just 6 months old, and by 10 months, he began to imitate the swing from his high chair. He picked up his first real club, a sawed-off putter, before he was a year old and was already a seasoned prodigy by the time he appeared on national television at age two. This article will go through the remarkable story of Tiger's early start and then turn that story into practical advice for you or your young golfer, covering how to introduce a child to the game and the best way to develop a lifelong passion for it.
The story of Tiger Woods cannot be told without his father, Earl Woods. A retired U.S. Army officer and Green Beret, Earl was an enthusiastic amateur golfer who introduced his son to the game almost from birth. The legend begins in the family garage in Cypress, California. Earl would practice hitting balls into a net, with baby Eldrick "Tiger" Woods watching intently from his high chair.
At an astonishing 10 months of age, Tiger picked up a club and displayed a surprisingly fluid, natural swing. Earl and his wife, Kultida, were stunned. It was clear this was more than just infant imitation, it was raw, innate talent. Recognizing this, Earl sawed down a putter to fit his son's tiny frame. This wasn't about pushing a career on a toddler, it was about nurturing a an obvious gift and a burgeoning passion.
By age two, Tiger's talent was so apparent that he made a now-famous appearance on The Mike Douglas Show. Alongside comedian Bob Hope, little Tiger calmly strode onto the stage, set up his ball, and hit a perfect drive into the show's backdrop, followed by a putting contest with Hope. The audience was captivated. It was the world's first glimpse of the "Tiger-effect" - that cool, hyper-focused demeanor that would define his career.
Earl's coaching method was unique. It was a blend of technical instruction and psychological conditioning, borrowing from his military experience. He didn't just teach Tiger how to swing, he taught him how to think. He would intentionally jingle loose change in his pocket or roll a ball across Tiger's line during a putt to build unshakeable focus - a skill that proved invaluable under the immense pressure of major championships.
As Tiger entered his pre-teen and teenage years, his dominance went from a fascinating local story to a national phenomenon. He wasn't just good for his age, he was becoming one of the best amateur golfers in the world, regardless of age. His climb through the ranks wasn't just a steady progression, it was historic.
Tiger's record in big-time amateur golf is almost hard to comprehend. It reads like something from a work of fiction. He won the Optimist International Junior World championships six times, at ages 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
Then came the United States Golf Association (USGA) events, the most prestigious tournaments in American amateur golf. From 1991 to 1993, he achieved a feat that has never been repeated: he won the U.S. Junior Amateur three consecutive times. He was the only player to ever win it more than once.
Most players would consider that a career-defining accomplishment. For Tiger, it was just the appetizer. After graduating from junior golf, he immediately set his sights on the U.S. Amateur, the top prize for non-professional golfers. In an even more staggering display of clutch play and mental toughness, he proceeded to win the U.S. Amateur three consecutive times from 1994 to 1996.
Several of these wins were achieved in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion, often on the final holes, showcasing the steely nerves his father had meticulously instilled in him. By the time he famously said "Hello, world," and turned professional in August of 1996, he was already a golfing legend. His amateur career was arguably the greatest in the history of the sport.
While your child probably isn't the next Tiger Woods (and putting that expectation on them is a recipe for disaster), the story of his incredible childhood offers a fantastic blueprint for developing a healthy, lifelong love for golf. As a coach, these are the lessons I emphasize most.
The single most important reason Tiger stuck with golf was because Earl made it a joyful experience. It wasn't a chore, it was a game. They had nicknames for different types of putts and played competitive chipping and putting contests. The garage and the golf course were his playgrounds.
Actionable Tip: Forget about technical perfection at first. Create games. See who can get closest to the hole from the fringe. Have putting contests where the winner gets to choose dinner. Focus on the experience, not the score. The number one goal should be having your child ask, "When can we go play again?"
Earl was the initiator, but he wasn't a dictator. He introduced golf to Tiger, but he never forced him to practice. The standing rule was simple: if Tiger wanted to play, they played. If he wanted to go do something else, they did that instead. This approach gave Tiger ownership of his golf journey and prevented the kind of burnout that ends so many promising junior careers.
Actionable Tip: Pay attention to your child's cues. Don't frame golf as a daily requirement. Offer it as a fun activity. If they find more joy in another sport, support that. A well-rounded athlete often becomes a better golfer later on.
Tiger's foundation was built around the greens. His days were spent chipping and putting, mastering the feel and finesse required to score. Hitting a driver long and straight is exciting, but the reality is that 60-70% of all golf shots are played from within 100 yards of the hole.
Actionable Tip: When you take a new golfer to the course, start at the putting green, not the driving range. Make it a game to get the ball in the hole in as few putts as possible. Then move to chipping. This builds confidence and teaches scoring from the hole backwards - a an advanced strategy from day one.
Earl’s wisdom in sawing down a club cannot be overstated. Playing with equipment that is too long, too heavy, or too stiff forces a junior golfer to develop unnatural swing compensations that are very difficult to unlearn later.
Actionable Tip: Invest in a proper junior set. Companies like U.S. Kids Golf make clubs that are specifically designed for different heights. They are lighter and more flexible, allowing a child to develop a proper, athletic swinging motion.
The question so many parents have is, "If Tiger started at 6 months, do we need to start our child that early?" The answer is an emphatic no. Tiger Woods is the exception to every rule. For most kids, there isn't one "perfect" age to start.
The best time to introduce a child to golf is simply when they show an interest. This can be at age 3 by putting in the living room or at age 13 after watching a major tournament on TV. What’s most important is their internal motivation.
As a coach, I generally see a good age for more structured introductions to swing fundamentals around 5 to 7. At this point, many children have developed the basic motor skills, coordination, and attention span to follow simple instructions. But even then, the priority must remain on group settings, games, and fun.
It’s also worth noting how many successful pros started "late." Larry Nelson, a three-time major champion, didn't even pick up a club until he was 21 after returning from duty in Vietnam. Mark O'Meara started at 13. Their stories prove that an early start isn't a prerequisite for excellence. It’s dedication and a love for the process that matter most.
The best thing you can do for a potential young golfer is to foster a love for all athletic movements. Encourage them to play soccer, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Building a foundation of athleticism will make learning the specific motion of the golf swing much easier when the time is right.
Tiger Woods began his remarkable golf journey at an age that astounds most, developing his legendary skills under the guidance of his father before he could even form a complete sentence. However, the true lessons from his story are not about starting impossibly young, but about fostering passion with a light touch, focusing on fun and fundamentals, and allowing a player to find their own path to loving the game.
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