They've taken to calling Tiger Woods the "chosen one" and why not? At the relatively young age of 29, he has already put together a resume that can be compared favorably with the many all time greats of the sport . In 2005, he captured his 10th major golf championship, a total that puts him fourth place in history in the most championships won behind Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. And to think that he has probably not even reached the half-way point of his very incredible golf career.



Among today's crop of golf professionals, Tiger Woods is the only one to rank among the list of the top 20 major championship winners of all time, a strong indicator of his dominance in today's world of golf. Culturally, Woods is credited with creating a much renewed interest and participation in golf, not only in the United States but also worldwide.

So far, his life has unfolded like a fairy-tale movie. Why, even if it is only his life before the age of 20 that you consider, the movie would already be pretty good.

Consider the following.

Born on December 30, 1975, Eldrick "Tiger" Woods' early beginnings are well-chronicled by now. At just four months old, Woods guested on the Mike Douglas TV show to display his golf skills and his surprisingly natural golf swing. In 1984, he won his first world golf championship -- the 9-10 Boys Event of the Junior World Golf Championships -- at the age of eight. He went on to win the Junior World Golf Championships six times, including four consecutive wins from 1988-1991.

Woods continued with his incredible winning ways in the U.S.Junior Amateur Championships, which he won in 1991, 1992, and 1993 and he remains as the event's youngest-ever winner. He then went on to become the only person to win the U.S. Amateur Championship three straight years. He won his first amateur in 1994 fresh out of high school, thereby also becoming the youngest to ever win the event. Before he reached the age of 20, Woods had won the USGA Championships five times. Many believe that he has already compiled the best ever under-20 career in golf history.

From there, Woods went to Stanford University for two years, won one NCAA individual championship and then left college to pursue his professional golf career. And after that, the rest, as they say, is history.