26 examples of Tiger Woods' extraordinary competitiveness

Scott Davis,Cork GainesDec 30, 2022, 18:57 IST

Getty/Andrew Redington

Tiger Woods' future on the golf course is limited following his horrific car accident.
Even though he will never be a full-time player again, Woods has already shown he can compete again, which is just the latest example of his competitiveness.

Tony Manfred contributed to an earlier version of this story.

When Woods was 14, he said he could be the Michael Jordan of golf.

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He has practiced before and after competitive rounds: He was spotted playing in the dark at the 2011 PGA Championship.

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He used to have a crazy, non-stop daily routine.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

According to his former trainer, Hank Haney, Tiger's marathon training days would last for 13 hours.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

He's so obsessed with working out — he does it in the middle of the night.

Jamie Squire/Getty

His former coach claims he injured himself doing insane, Olympic-style weightlifting exercises to get stronger.

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

He played with a broken leg and torn ACL at the 2008 US Open and won.

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

At the 2019 PGA Championship, Tiger was asked about John Daly getting permission to use a cart. Tiger grinned and referred back to that U.S. Open win, saying, "as far as J.D. taking a cart, well, I walked with a broken leg."

Tiger Woods speaks at his press conference ahead of the 2022 PGA Championship.AP Photo/Matt York

At the 2019 PGA Championship, Tiger was asked about John Daly getting permission to use a cart. Tiger grinned and referred back to that U.S. Open win, saying, "as far as J.D. taking a cart, well, I walked with a broken leg."

Woods was not known to be very friendly on the golf course during his prime, making plenty of rivals throughout his career.

Danny Moloshok/AP

He once fired an iconic death stare at his ex-caddie Steve Williams after their messy breakup.

Phil Mickelson has been one of Tiger's top rivals, though it appears the two are now friendlier than ever.

Jamie Squire/Getty

Of course, he still had to have some fun afterward, saying Mickelson's button-down golf shirt was missing a tie.

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Though he has rivalries, he also sends tough love to other golfers. He once gave McIlroy some odd motivation before a tournament.

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Tiger hates losing — in all sports.

Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

He refuses to give an edge in any competition, even ping pong.

Danny Moloshok/AP

He doesn't take it easy on anyone, including his ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn. She said he won every time they played ping pong or tennis.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

He felt guilty about using an air tank while spearfishing, so he learned to free dive without one.

He loves a good challenge.

Lynne Sladky/AP

He changed his swing in 2002 after winning eight majors because it wasn't perfect enough.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

He then changed his swing several more times, leading to some criticism from those in the golf world.

Bret Hartman/AP

He loved the military, so he reportedly tried to join the Navy SEALs.

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

In 2000, he took a gamble and switched to a solid-core ball that no one else was using. Two years later, the entire tour was using it.

Matt York/AP

At the peak of his game, he never joked around on the course.

His numerous comebacks from injuries prove how hard-working he is.

Lenny Ignelzi/AP

At the 2019 Masters, where Tiger won his 15th major and proved he was finally back, he reportedly cursed himself out in a bathroom in private after 2 straight bogeys. He then rebounded to win the green jacket.

Getty/Andrew Redington

At the 2019 Masters, where Tiger won his 15th major and proved he was finally back, he reportedly cursed himself out in a bathroom in private after 2 straight bogeys. He then rebounded to win the green jacket.

This quote about why he plays golf sums it up.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

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26 examples of Tiger Woods' extraordinary competitiveness

When Woods was 14, he said he could be the Michael Jordan of golf.

He has practiced before and after competitive rounds: He was spotted playing in the dark at the 2011 PGA Championship.

He used to have a crazy, non-stop daily routine.

According to his former trainer, Hank Haney, Tiger's marathon training days would last for 13 hours.

He's so obsessed with working out — he does it in the middle of the night.

His former coach claims he injured himself doing insane, Olympic-style weightlifting exercises to get stronger.

He played with a broken leg and torn ACL at the 2008 US Open and won.

At the 2019 PGA Championship, Tiger was asked about John Daly getting permission to use a cart. Tiger grinned and referred back to that U.S. Open win, saying, "as far as J.D. taking a cart, well, I walked with a broken leg."

Woods was not known to be very friendly on the golf course during his prime, making plenty of rivals throughout his career.

He once fired an iconic death stare at his ex-caddie Steve Williams after their messy breakup.

Phil Mickelson has been one of Tiger's top rivals, though it appears the two are now friendlier than ever.

Of course, he still had to have some fun afterward, saying Mickelson's button-down golf shirt was missing a tie.

Though he has rivalries, he also sends tough love to other golfers. He once gave McIlroy some odd motivation before a tournament.

Tiger hates losing — in all sports.

He refuses to give an edge in any competition, even ping pong.

He doesn't take it easy on anyone, including his ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn. She said he won every time they played ping pong or tennis.

He felt guilty about using an air tank while spearfishing, so he learned to free dive without one.

He loves a good challenge.

He changed his swing in 2002 after winning eight majors because it wasn't perfect enough.

He then changed his swing several more times, leading to some criticism from those in the golf world.

He loved the military, so he reportedly tried to join the Navy SEALs.

In 2000, he took a gamble and switched to a solid-core ball that no one else was using. Two years later, the entire tour was using it.

At the peak of his game, he never joked around on the course.

His numerous comebacks from injuries prove how hard-working he is.

At the 2019 Masters, where Tiger won his 15th major and proved he was finally back, he reportedly cursed himself out in a bathroom in private after 2 straight bogeys. He then rebounded to win the green jacket.

This quote about why he plays golf sums it up.