London: As Tiger Woods turns 50 on Tuesday, he can reflect on an incredible career so far which has seen him go from child prodigy to one of the biggest names in sport and bounce back from dramatic lows to claim a memorable 15th major title that many thought would never come.
The pinnacle of his trophy-laden career came over 11 months between2000 and 2001 when he was unbeatable at major championships,completing the 'Tiger Slam' by holding all four titles at the same time.
While he remains three short of Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins, there is a strong argument that Woods is golf's 'greatest of all time'.
His rise to the top started from a very young age.
Woods was imitating his father's swing aged just six months and appeared on television with Bob Hope before his third birthday and soon after shot 48 for nine holes.
Amateur success turned seamlessly into professional glory and Woods went on to dominate the game in incredible fashion, winning 54 times between 1999 and 2006 and claiming the US Open in 2008 despite suffering a double stress fracture and knee injury which prompted season-ending surgery.
But after such a momentous rise, the fall from grace was equally incredible, a car crash near his home in November 2009 eventually leading to admissions of infidelity and Woods taking an "indefinite break" from golf.
Woods returned to action with a tie for fourth at the 2010 Master rebut failed to win that season for the first time since turning professional.
Something approaching normal service resumed the following two years but, after winning five times in 2013, Woods started just 24 event sin the next four years as the pain from his back often left him grimacing or having to withdraw from events entirely.
In 2017, Woods underwent spinal fusion surgery. The following month,with five prescription drugs in his system, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence when he was found asleep at the wheel of his car and later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
Back on the PGA Tour in 2018, Woods missed the cut in his second event but crucially felt fit enough to add tournaments to his schedule and a return to form soon followed, most notably when he led the Open Championship with eight holes to play and then finished runner-up in the US PGA before winning the Tour Championship in September.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
