Tiger Woods, one of the most celebrated golfers of all time, earned his distinctive nickname as a tribute to a close friend of his father.
The Origin of the Nickname
His father, Earl Woods, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, nicknamed his son "Tiger" after a Vietnamese soldier and friend named Vuong Dang Phong. Earl Woods had also given the nickname "Tiger" to Vuong Dang Phong himself. This act honored the strong bond and friendship between Earl and the Vietnamese soldier.
Early Life and Family Background
Born Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods, he is the son of Earl Woods and Kultida Woods. His mother, Kultida, is a native of Thailand. Tiger grew up in Cypress, California, where he began to develop the extraordinary golf skills that would eventually make him a global icon. The nickname, chosen out of respect and admiration, became synonymous with his identity as he rose to unprecedented fame in the world of golf.
