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Tiger Woods‘ first hole-in-one golf ball, which he hit on his professional debut in 1996, made history and signaled the start of an extraordinary career. Well, it was set to grab attention once more. The renowned golfer’s signed Titleist was put up for sale and, unsurprisingly enough, brought in a king’s ransom.

As last year’s November drew near, excitement for the sale of Tiger Woods’ first hole-in-one golf ball, a prized relic that marked the beginning of an unrivaled athletic career, grew. Woods has made his name in sports history with a career that includes 15 Major wins and an incredible 82 PGA Tour victories. Golf lovers, sports fans, and collectors from all around the world watched the auction in anticipation of their chance to acquire this one-of-a-kind piece of golfing history.

Tiger Woods’ first hole-in-one golf ball sells for jaw-dropping $186,000.

From November 17–19, 2022, the eagerly awaited auction took place at Heritage Auctions’ Fall Sports Catalogue Auction in the US.

Tiger Woods

For the signed Titleist, Heritage Auctions set a low guide price of US$50,000 (S$70,165). Given the enormous value and extreme rarity of such a special artifact, experts predicted that the final bid might much exceed this estimate.

The auction came to an exciting conclusion as eager buyers competed for this unique piece of golf history. As the offers continued to rise above projections, the excitement in the room was apparent. Ultimately, one lucky buyer won the ball for an incredible price of more than $186,000.

Other Woods memorabilia, including his Title 681-T irons, which he used to win each of his four major championships in 2000 and 2001, earned an astounding $7.2 million at auction months before the first hole-in-one golf ball’s auction in the last year.p

The lucky fan who got Tiger Woods’ historic memorabilia 26 years ago

It was twenty-six years ago, at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open, when a young Tiger Woods made his triumphant debut as a professional golfer. From that moment on, the extraordinary adventure of this historic golf ball began. He aced the 14th hole in the final round, leaving the audience in awe of his incredible talent, to a loud ovation. Little did the world know that this was the beginning of a career that would pave the way, despite the fact that he placed modestly in 60th place in that tournament.

Woods threw the ball into the jubilant crowd after his tremendous shot, and after a tiny deflection off the hand of his brother-in-law David Beck, it ended up in the hands of lucky fan Bob Gustin. Gustin made sure to obtain the ball signed by the rising star thanks to a link with tournament director Tom Strong, realizing the historical significance of the occasion.

Gustin has proudly displayed the prized Titleist in a glass case for the past 26 years, along with details about the competition and the occasion of Woods’ incredible achievement. However, he had then made the decision to sell this special keepsake through an auction.

What’s your take on the Woods’ first hole-in-one golf ball auction? Let us know your view in the comments below.

Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time. His accolades and performances have cemented that over the last two decades. He has more PGA Tour victories than everyone else and more majors than everyone not named Jack Nicklaus.

Naturally, there are a lot of factors involved in deciding that. Talent matters, and some of it can’t be taught. Other factors like swing speed can be improved, as can accuracy, form, and the rest. Equipment matters, as does work ethic.

All of that ultimately results in a swing that determines how good a golfer can be. Their swings determine where the ball goes, and that is the name of the game.

Here are the best golfers of all time based on those swings:

The golfers with the best golf swings

5) Brooks Koepka

For evidence of Brooks Koepka’s excellent swing, look no further than his PGA Championship win. For years, he’s been lauded for his swing, which has translated into an excellent career.

Tiger Woods

Even now on LIV Golf, he commands attention and is still one of the best golfers in the world. His average swing speed was tracked in 2016, and it was a stunning 122.77 mph.

4) Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy doesn’t have the fastest swing, but it generally goes much further than other golfers. There are naturally a lot of facets to making the current world number three golfer, but his driving distance is what sets him apart.

He’s routinely able to hit the ball further than his counterparts, which makes the rest of each hole easier. He has pretty good swing speed, too, recently knocking a ball at a speed of 188.

3) Fred Couples

Fred Couples had a tempo with his swing that was largely unmatched, and it made him one of the most successful golfers ever. Couples is a golfing legend, and his swing has stood the test of time.

To this day, it’s considered one of the fastest and one of the best-looking. That’s not all that a golfer needs, but it clearly goes a long way.

2) Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus played in an era where the competition may not have been as strong. Athletically, sports players are more evolved now than they were back then. That matters in all sports, including golf.

It’s hard to compare Nicklaus’ performances to modern times without knowing how to adjust for the era, but his swing doesn’t need adjustment. 18 majors can only come from an excellent swing.

You don’t win 15 majors and over 80 PGA Tour events without one of the best swings of all time. Even with a hobbled body and crippled limbs, Tiger Woods’ swing is still one of the best in the game.

His body can’t hold up his swing’s promise, but the swing is beautiful. He’s not the longest driver in the game, and he doesn’t have the fastest swing speed of all time. It’s still one of the best swings ever.

A look back at Tiger Woods incredible journey as he dominates the golfing world, achieving the monumental Tiger Slam of four consecutive major victories.

The incredible feat of none other than Tiger Woods, who won four straight major championships from 2000 to 2001, created a legend in the exhilarating world of golf that endures to this day. Unquestionably, this incredible accomplishment—now commonly known as the Tiger Slam—has completely changed the game.

The one and only Tiger Woods enthralled the entire golfing world with a swing that has often been regarded as the best the sport has ever seen, leaving an enduring imprint on the very fabric of the game. Tiger set his eyes on something genuinely spectacular from the renowned US Open, the year’s first major.

The young golfer set out on his path to golfing glory with the unwavering conviction, “This guy’s a freak of nature, and I want to be him one day,” echoing in his voice. Unbeknownst to the world, this apparently daring endeavor would eventually lead to one of the most astounding exhibitions of brilliance, steadfast determination, and unmatched mental fortitude to ever grace the famous greens.

Tiger Woods

The Tiger Slam: A legendary journey

Tiger Woods‘s extraordinary abilities became stronger week after week and tournament after tournament, mesmerizing the whole golfing community with each shot. The mysterious golfer had to deal with incessant questions about how he felt about competing in the prestigious Augusta event.

Unfazed by outside expectations, Tiger stayed focused on the procedure, relentless preparation, and unflinching faith in what had led him to the height of success. He bucked social conventions and seemed unaffected by the growing demands of a constantly watching audience. The Tiger Slam was more than simply a competition for prizes; it was a display of unrelenting brilliance that raised the bar for future generations.

The great annals of golf history will forever bear witness to Woods‘ quest for the Tiger Slam. His extraordinary skill, laser-like concentration, and unwavering resolve are an inspiration to sports fans all throughout the globe.

One of the most astonishing feats in the rich history of the game, holding all four major trophies concurrently was a significant milestone never previously accomplished in the contemporary age of golf. When we think back on the Tiger Slam, we are in awe of the genius of a legendary sports figure who not only revolutionized the sport but also made a lasting impression on the hearts of millions of people across the world.

The Tiger Slam, which took golf to new heights, is a monument to the excellence of a single individual. This extraordinary achievement will always be remembered as a benchmark of greatness, motivating future generations of golfers to pursue their goals and make a lasting impression on the world stage of sports. The Tiger Slam is more than simply a golfing triumph; it is an enduring legend that motivates people all around the globe to strive for excellence in their various fields.

For a considerable amount of time, Tiger Woods has been absent from the golf course. The most shocking was definitely the merger. Woods declined the $800 million offer from LIV Golf, not knowing that his league, the PGA Tour, would soon merge with LIV Golf. Many golfers reacted to the news, but we still haven’t gotten any words from Woods.

However, as it seems, Woods is busy these days, despite the fact that the golf industry is occupied with its own things. Together with his PGA Tour friend Rory McIlroy, Woods made a significant move last year when they invested around $14.7 million to launch the TGL, a virtual golf league. There was also a significant update to his $5,200,000 entertainment project.

New venue for the PopStroke golf facility

A mini-golf entertainment venue co-owned by Tiger Woods is coming to San Antonio. Woods designed the 18-hole putting courses at PopStroke venues. To make golf more accessible for players of all ages and abilities, Tiger and his TGR Design team became the visionaries behind PopStroke’s 18-hole putting courses.

Popstroke revealed in April that it would be bringing its putt-and-entertainment facility to several Texas cities in 2023, including San Antonio. The location was not made public at the time of the announcement. However, the PopStroke is moving to the Northside near Shavano Park, according to a recent filing with the state.

Tiger Woods

By March 2024, the project will be finished at a cost of around $5,200,000. There will be 37 mini-golf holes in the new facility. Now the San Antonio players will hone their golfing skills at the Woods-designed holes.

For Woods, this is unquestionably the finest news. However, in a different instance, Woods’ business partner experienced a significant setback.

Tiger Woods’ partner is in legal trouble

Together with Woods, British billionaire Joe Lewis built Albany Golf and Leisure Resorts in the Bahamas. He was recently accused by US authorities of developing a trading system and disseminating illegal information to his associates, acquaintances, and personal aides.

It is an instance of corporate corruption, according to US authorities. He is undoubtedly struggling, but his defense attorneys have promised to fight the accusations and clear his name.

Even though Woods is absent from the competitive field, his involvement in these projects gives future sportsmen a tremendous opportunity to follow in his footsteps. Woods is making sure to give his input to the upcoming golfers.

What do you think about the new location of PopStroke golf facilities? Let us know in the comments.

Holding off Tiger Woods on the golf course is not an easy task. Considered to be one of the best golfers in the world, Woods has always been a formidable opponent and rather intimidating to face. PGA Tour veteran Greg Chalmers recalls, recently recalled the time he had to face off against Woods in his prime.

The incident came at a time when Chalmers and Woods were competing in the 1994 Eisenhower Trophy in France. Speaking via Golf.com Chalmers said that the first thought he had about Tiger Woods was:
“Holy s—, this guy’s pretty f—— good!”

Greg Chalmers has had eight international victories between 1995 and 2014, including the 2011 Australian PGA Championship. It was during this time that he held off Tiger Woods‘ charge for the victory.

Chalmers did not go into the tournament thinking about Woods, but it soon became apparent that Woods was not going anywhere. He said:

“Just a hot last day. Wasn’t really thinking consciously about what it was with Tiger or anything like that. Just got hot going the last day, three under through a handful, and then just hung on like crazy.”

Tiger Woods

Greg Chalmers holds off Tiger Woods by two strokes to win 2011 Australian PGA Title

The last round of the 2011 Australian PGA Championship was a rollercoaster ride for Chalmers. The last hole especially, was a tough one to complete. Chalmers had to bunker-shot the par 3 hole to keep himself in competition. He recalled:

“I hit it to two feet on 15, and that was, on a par 3, a birdie. And that got me kind of a couple in front. And then I missed the green on 16, missed the green and had to get up and down, made a five-footer.”

“And then I missed the green on 18, it’s a tough par 3 and I had one of those 40-yard bunker shots into the wind kind of thing and hit it out to six feet, made that.”

Ultimately, Chalmers did hold on to the win, beating John Senden by one shot and Tiger Woods by two shots.

Tiger Woods, the golf legend, might be missing from the majors due to his ongoing recovery from injury, but he continues to make headlines in unexpected ways. Recently, the world witnessed not one, but two instances of fans channeling their inner Tiger by donning his iconic style.

It came to light recently that Hailey Bieber was spotted dawning a vintage Tiger Woods nike cap. Subsequently, his popular red and black combination was spotted at the Korn Ferry Tour. The golfing icon’s influence on and off the course remains ever-present, proving that his legacy is truly one for the ages.

Barstool Trent — The Tiger Woods Lookalike

In a delightful twist, Barstool Trent, a well-known figure on social media, set the golf community abuzz when he posted a photo of himself on Twitter, dressed head to toe like Tiger Woods. He was spotted at the Korn Ferry Tour. Donning a red tee shirt with signature striped patterns reminiscent of Tiger’s famous attire and a black cap, Trent carried a microphone while exuding undeniable Tiger-like charisma.
The NUCLR GOLF page on Twitter was quick to notice the resemblance, sharing Trent’s photo and captioning it with excitement. It seems like even when Tiger is not on the course, his style still inspires golf enthusiasts and personalities alike.
Tiger Woods

Hailey Bieber — A Touch of Tiger’s Vintage Style

Tiger Woods’ impact transcends the world of sports and seeps into the entertainment industry as well. Hailey Bieber, a popular Hollywood star and former IMG model, sent fans into a frenzy when she was spotted sporting a vintage cap with an original “TW” logo. The cap, no longer in production, became a fashion statement with a touch of Tiger’s iconic flair.

As news of Hailey’s fashion choice spread, it further showcased Tiger’s lasting influence and reach beyond the golfing realm. The legendary golfer’s association with Nike has had a profound impact on fashion and popular culture, making his signature styles highly sought after by fans from all walks of life.

Tiger’s style continues to inspire and captivate fans. Tiger’s long-standing partnership with Nike has not only elevated his own career but has also left an indelible mark on the sport and fashion industries. As fans eagerly await Tiger’s return to the greens, his presence looms large in unexpected and delightful ways. Whether it’s on the course or off it, Tiger Woods’ influence is a testament to his enduring legacy. He is one of the greatest golfers and style icons in history.

As the world celebrates International Tigers Day, a tribute to the namesake and golf’s great Tiger Woods is just as essential. Woods is often regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history, and rightfully so! He has had so many accolades and tournaments to his name that the celebration of his career and his record just makes sense.

Of the thousands of interesting moments the golf legend has witnessed on the court, one stands out. It’s the story of how the roaring golfer was once pushed above and beyond his exceptional skills by his former caddie, Steve Williams.

Tiger Woods former caddie once helped him excel in his stellar skills 

Williams, Woods’ former caddie, was on his bag for 12 whole years. The two partnered from 1999 to 2011, and he saw the golfer in his best element and in his worst element as well. No matter what the Golf Hall of Famer was going through, his former caddie stood by him and encouraged him to do better.

Oftentimes, spectators and fans do not realize the kind of stress that a golfer goes through while competing on the course. It can get tough! As mentioned on Page 139 of the memoirOut of the Rough, it was the 2005 Masters, and the 82X PGAT winner was chasing his career’s ninth major, and he found himself in a situation he had never been in before.

Woods was in “total control of a major championship and stumbled.” Why? As speculated by the New Zealander, the reason Woods’ stumbled was because of the confusion between his new coach, Hank Haney’s swing pattern, and his old habits.

 Tiger Woods

The 15-time major champion was competing against Chris DiMarco at Augusta, and DiMarco tied with Woods; the winner was to be decided by the playoffs. As Williams and the golfer reached the 18th, he felt that something was not right with Woods. He felt that the golfer needed to be revved up. Williams said the magical words to his friend: “Remember, you’re Tiger Woods, eight-time major champion. This guy hasn’t won one – show him why you’ve won so many.” As a result, Woods hit a birdie on the first playoff hole and won the ninth major of his career, the 2005 Masters.

Well, it is indeed an interesting thing to know about the 2005 Augusta, but this moment alone was not the only one that was the best 2005 memory. There is one more special memory from that year’s Masters tournament that has proven to be one of the best for Tiger Woods.

Woods played one of the most memorable shots at Augusta in 2005

It is very hard to forget Tiger Woods’ most iconic chip-in shot at the 16th hole that he played during the final round. After his par-3 tee shot, Woods found himself with a tricky second shot almost 16 feet away. In that situation, he shot the ball to the left of the pin and watched it as it slowly rolled down the slope toward the cup.

From its appearance, it looked like the ball would come up short, but another half-rotation gave the shot just enough momentum to roll off the lip of the cup and into the hole. As a result, Woods and the crowd roared together and were absolutely elated.

What are your thoughts about the legendary moment when Steve Williams pushed the golf great to extend his limit, and as a result, we got a champion? Let us know below in the comments!

JJ Redick, right now, has perhaps the most sought-after NBA podcast in the league. The former Philadelphia 76ers star has successfully solidified his “Old Man and The Three” podcast in the media. He has had a ton of NBA players on his podcast, retired and current included. JJ has a segment called “JJ Mailbag” in his segment, where he answers questions received from fans. One of the questions, he was recently asked was about his ‘Dream Golf Foursome’ squad. He had two billionaires and a Golden State Warriors star in his squad. Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods made it to his list.

Earlier, in the podcast, Redick laid his heart out and said that he and Steph would have been best friends in a different scenario. Apparently, when Curry was on the podcast, Redick had a blast with him talking about basketball and life. He also added that apart from basketball they had a lot of things in common, while he also mentioned that he has never said it to Curry. Maybe this is one of JJ’s various tricks to win Steph’s heart. In all seriousness, in the recent events, Steph has shown why he probably deserves that place on Redick’s list.

JJ Redick has Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan among his favorite gold players to watch

During the podcast, after Redick was done talking about Bill Murry and his movies, his co-host Tommy Alter asked him about his favorite golfers of all time. Interestingly, the former NBA shooting specialist only included one from professional golfing and two from basketball. He had Tiger at first, Jordan at second, and Steph at third, and all for good reasons. See what Redick had to say about his favorite golf players;

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods… Steph[Stephen Curry]… MJ[Michael Jordan]. That’s easy. You get to see the greatest golfer of all time, the greatest basketball player of all time to some people, and the greatest shooter of all time.”

Of course, MJ and Curry are not professional golf players, but Redick was right in saying that their competition would be worth watching. He has every right to choose his favorite player. And, there is nothing wrong to include your potential best friend in the squad. Who wouldn’t want to see his best friends competing? Perhaps it is time for Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to welcome another one in the group.

Michael Jordan wins golf bet against Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan have been golfing together since 2009. Since then they have successfully stricken an excellent friendship off the court. MJ and Woods are alphas and both are ultra-competitive. The latter might be the best golfer in the world, but there are very few who could match the relentlessness of Jordan.

In 2009, MJ was playing with Justin Timberlake and Tiger at a celebrity event at Bethpage, one of the toughest golf courses in the world. Tiger wanted to make the event a little more fun and challenged Jordan to break 92. The course is very rough and it seemed like a very daunting task. However, Michael is not one to quit. After starting a bit rough, Jordan took over, just like his old basketball days. He started a bit rough but came back to finish with 86.

When it comes to Tiger Woods, there is no shortage of famous brand sponsorships. From Nike to Rolex to TaylorMade, he has quite the reputation for wearing, using, and collaborating with big brands.

The deal with Gatorade was no different. Considered one of the most famous sports drinks in the world, Gatorade found the perfect opportunity to collaborate with Tiger Woods during his prime.

The deal was first established in 2007, when it was announced that Tiger Woods would have his own sports drink, “Tiger Focus”.

Speaking about the 5-year deal, Woods said via NBCnews:

“Gatorade has been part of my game plan for years, whether I’m training or competing, so this is an ideal match. I’m eager to launch my first signature product in a few months and look forward to developing additional sports performance beverages with Gatorade in the coming years.”

However, the deal fell apart in 2010, when Woods’ adulterous scandals came to light. Gatorade became the third company to drop Woods after AT&T and Accenture, and Gillette followed soon after.

Tiger Woods

The four companies dropped him soon after he became exposed as a serial cheater after reportedly admitting to cheating with over 120 women.

How much money did Tiger Woods lose after being dumped by Gatorade?

Needless to say, Woods lost a lot of money due to his cheating scandal. Reportedly, the deal he signed with Gatorade was worth close to $100 million, all of which he lost when the deal fell through.

Speaking about the deal, a PepsiCo Gatorade spokesperson said in 2010:

“We no longer see a role for Tiger in our marketing efforts and have ended our relationship. Our partnership with the Tiger Woods Foundation will continue. We wish him all the best.”

Woods soon apologized for his behavior in a tight-lipped, heavily controlled televised event. However, he remained out of the public eye for almost 3 months when he crashed his car after his scandals came to light.

Many sponsors decided to drop the golfer, making him lose almost $100 million a year on average. However, other companies, like Electronic Arts, decided to continue to sponsor Woods.

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the most legendary golf courses ever. And it is not without reason. Just the sight of it motivates a player to give their best shot. From Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods, players have displayed some of their best golf here.

And one such cherished memory from this sea-hugging gem dates back to 2000 when Tiger Woods played arguably the greatest game of golf. It was the US Open where Woods made history and showcased his skills simultaneously, with just one shot. Yes, you can say that. Let’s find out more.

Tiger Woods dismisses the threat of a cliff with just one stroke

In the 100th edition of the US Open, in what was also his 100th tournament as a professional, Tiger Woods achieved an incredible feat at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000. At just 24 years old and in his prime, his exceptional golf display astounded his peers and spectators. A five-time major champion, Phil Mickelson, described the performance as “the greatest in golf of all time.”

In a video shared by Sharpside Golf earlier this month, the golf world can see Tiger Woods, his ex-caddie Steve Williams, and analyst Roger Maltbie. They talk about Tiger’s famous shot at the 7th hole at the 2000 US Open. Sharpsidegolf writes while posting the video, “Tiger, Stevie Williams, & Roger Maltbie recap the famous shot Tiger hit at the ‘00 US Open at Pebble Beach. Listening to Roger explain why he said what he said is gold! Love hearing these types of stories!”

Maltbie explains what the course looked like. He says while driving the ball to the seventh hole, Tiger had to face a large cliff where he was required to loft the ball up and over. That, according to Maltbie, was a significant risk. Steve Williams provides an insight into Tiger Woods’ confident attitude. He says, “When Tiger was quiet, that always was a confident feeling I got from him, and that certainly was the case. That whole… you just knew that there’s any chance you can get the club on the ball, he will do.” Roger Maltbie calls it an unfair fight because, as per him, no other player could do it.

Tiger Woods

It’s a shame that Tiger Woods and Steve Williams split after working together for so long. The decision shocked the golf world, and Steve Williams was not expecting to be fired as a friend either. However, even though their personal and professional relationship ended, Williams still speaks of Tiger’s win at the US Open as the best of his career. Sports often set examples like these in front of people. Irrespective of what turn one’s relationship might take, the appreciation for their game never changes.

Woods broke a record made during the American Civil war

Tiger Woods received a check of $800,000 for winning the event. And became the PGA Tour’s all-time leading money-winner with winnings of $9.188 million in 2000, making an unforgettable memory for viewers and players alike. Even four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, described the performance as one-of-a-kind. He added, “Something like that’s not going to happen again.”

Woods’ numbers were also overwhelming. He finished the tournament 12 strokes under par and 15 shots ahead of his next competitors. He broke the record for the most significant margin of victory in a major championship since the Civil War. Old Tom Morris had set the previous record in the 1862 British Open.

Woods was also the first to win a US Open by double-digits under par. He played the first 22 holes without a bogey. And he presented a remarkable golf performance with three sub-par rounds. Woods was well-prepared for his triumphant experience at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000.

Leading up to it, he had won 12 of his previous 23 tournaments, including the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February of that year. His swing coach, Butch Harmon, also helped fine-tune his swing. Woods’ achievement at Pebble Beach was memorable because of his score and record-breaking performance that stunned everyone.