Earl Woods

Earl Woods
U.S. Army soldier or employee · Public domain · source
Name	Earl Woods
Birth date	March 5, 1932
Birth place	Manhattan, Kansas
Death date	May 3, 2006
Death place	Cypress, California
Occupation	United States Army officer, golf coach

Earl Woods was a renowned United States Army officer and golf coach, best known for being the father and coach of Tiger Woods, one of the most successful golfers in the history of the sport. Earl Woods' coaching techniques and philosophies played a significant role in shaping Tiger Woods' career, and his influence can be seen in the careers of other notable golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh. As a veteran of the United States Army, Earl Woods served in the Green Berets and was a Vietnam War veteran, where he was stationed in Saigon and worked with the Central Intelligence Agency. His experiences in the United States Army and his coaching career have been recognized by various organizations, including the National Golf Foundation and the PGA of America.

Early Life

Earl Woods was born on March 5, 1932, in Manhattan, Kansas, to Mae Dell and Earl Dennison Woods Sr.. He grew up in a family of modest means, with his father working as a Kansas State University employee and his mother as a homemaker. Earl Woods' early life was marked by a strong emphasis on education and athletics, with his parents encouraging him to participate in various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball, at Kansas State University and Manhattan High School. He was also an avid golfer, and his love for the sport would later become a defining aspect of his life, as he would often play at Augusta National Golf Club and Pebble Beach Golf Links with his son Tiger Woods and other notable golfers, such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Military Career

Earl Woods' military career spanned over two decades, during which he served in the United States Army and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a member of the Green Berets and served in the Vietnam War, where he was stationed in Saigon and worked with the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations and gather intelligence on the North Vietnamese Army. Earl Woods' experiences in the Vietnam War had a profound impact on his life, and he would later draw on these experiences to inform his coaching philosophy and approach to golf, as he would often discuss with his son Tiger Woods and other notable golfers, such as Gary Player and Lee Trevino. His military career also took him to various parts of the world, including Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, and West Point, where he would often play golf with other notable military personnel, such as General Norman Schwarzkopf and General Colin Powell.

Golf Coaching

Earl Woods' coaching career began when his son Tiger Woods started playing golf at a young age. He developed a unique coaching philosophy that emphasized the importance of mental toughness, physical conditioning, and technical skill. Earl Woods' coaching techniques were influenced by his experiences in the United States Army, where he learned the value of discipline, hard work, and strategic planning. He worked with Tiger Woods to develop a pre-shot routine and a course management strategy that would help him navigate the challenges of professional golf, as they would often discuss with other notable golf coaches, such as Butch Harmon and Hank Haney. Earl Woods' coaching career also extended beyond his work with Tiger Woods, as he worked with other notable golfers, including John Daly and Notah Begay III, and was recognized by various organizations, including the National Golf Foundation and the PGA of America, for his contributions to the sport.

Personal Life

Earl Woods was married to Kultida Woods, a Thai woman he met while serving in the Vietnam War. The couple had three children, including Tiger Woods, Kevin Woods, and Royce Woods. Earl Woods was a devoted family man, and his personal life was marked by a strong emphasis on family values and community involvement. He was also a prolific writer, and his book, "Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life", offers insights into his coaching philosophy and approach to golf, as well as his experiences as a father and a coach, and has been praised by other notable authors, such as John Feinstein and David Feherty. Earl Woods' personal life was also marked by his relationships with other notable figures, including Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan, with whom he would often discuss sports, politics, and social justice.

Death and Legacy

Earl Woods passed away on May 3, 2006, at the age of 74, due to complications from prostate cancer. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from the golf community, with many notable golfers, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Vijay Singh, paying tribute to his legacy as a coach and a father. Earl Woods' legacy extends beyond his work with Tiger Woods, as he is widely recognized as one of the most influential golf coaches of all time, and his coaching philosophy and approach to golf continue to inspire and inform the careers of golfers around the world, including Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Brooks Koepka. His legacy has also been recognized by various organizations, including the World Golf Hall of Fame and the PGA of America, which have honored him with numerous awards and accolades, including the PGA Distinguished Service Award and the Bob Hope Award. Category:Golf coaches