Following are some of Woods's highlights since he turned professional in 1996:
* Becomes the youngest Masters winner with a tournament record aggregate of 18-under-par 270 at Augusta National in 1997. His victory margin of 12 shots is the biggest in the tournament's history.
* After a lean spell in 1998, when he revamps his swing with coach Butch Harmon, Woods wins eight titles in a golden run on the 1999 PGA tour, including his second major at the PGA Championship where he holds off a charging Sergio Garcia.
Column: Here I come, ready or not!
* In 2000, Woods produces one of the most successful seasons in golfing history. Romps to victory by a record 15 strokes in the US Open, coasts home by eight shots in the British Open and claims his second PGA Championship.
* Becomes the fifth and youngest player to win a career Grand Slam of all four majors. Ends the year with nine titles on the PGA Tour, having completed his sixth in a row at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February.
* Woods wins his second Masters crown in 2001 to become the first player to hold all four professional major titles at the same time.
* In 2004, he fails to win a major for the second year in a row after embarking on the second revamp of his swing since turning professional. Breaks Greg Norman's record for most weeks as world number one with a combined tally of 332 but his five-year reign at the top finally ends in September when Fijian Vijay Singh takes over.
* One year later, Woods wins his fourth Masters title and his second British Open. Reclaims world number one ranking in June and has held it ever since.
* Has an emotional 2006, having to deal with the illness and death in May of his father Earl. After tying for third at the Masters in April, he takes a nine-week break before missing the cut in the US Open on his return, the first time he has done that in a major as a professional. Comes back to win the last two majors of the year, the British Open at Hoylake and the PGA Championship at Medinah. Ends 2006 with 11 titles worldwide, including six in a row on the PGA Tour.
* Cruises to an eight-shot victory in the 2007 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, his 14th individual title in a World Golf Championships (WGC) event. A week later, he clinches his 13th major and fourth US PGA Championship by two shots at Southern Hills Country Club.
* Launches his 2008 PGA Tour campaign with victories at the Buick Invitational, WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational. Finishes second at the Masters in mid-April before undergoing knee surgery two days later.
*In his first tournament back after an eight-week break, he clinches his 14th major title with a playoff victory over fellow American Rocco Mediate at the 108th US Open. Only Jack Nicklaus, with a record 18 career majors, lies ahead of him.