Think of sporting superstars, those who’ve broken records, pushed boundaries and achieved feats people didn’t think were possible, and the mind’s instantly drawn to Tiger Woods. What the man’s done in the golfing world has just been ridiculous. And what’s scary for others on the PGA Tour, is that there are still many years to come. He has plenty left in the tank.

How does a simple, American boy grow up to be a golfing superstar, loved and adored the world over? It’s a testimony to his upbringing, how he was raised. His mom and dad knew from an early age that he was destined for success. They put him on the right path, ensured he stayed there when he veered off, and ensured he realized his talent.

Golfing fans may have learned a few facts about Tiger’s childhood. But these are sure to come as a surprise. Here are 15 lesser-known facts about Tiger Woods’ upbringing.

15 Dad Used To Play Jazz To Him

There’s a theory that if classical music is played to an unborn child or a baby, that it’ll increase their IQ. When Tiger was younger, he was subjected to classical music. His dad used to play jazz to him because he felt it would help breed creativity. It’s also a rather complicated genre of music when performed right, and Earl wanted his son to appreciate that.

14 Tiger Liked Rap Music

Although his dad used to get Tiger to listen to jazz, when he was a bit older and was left to his own devices, rap took his fancy. His mom and dad just couldn’t stand rap music. At one stage, the music angered them so much, they almost said enough was enough, that if he didn’t stop playing it, they’d kick him out of the house.

13 Earl Trained Him Hard To Raise A Good Person

His father was primarily a father but also gave him a load of tough love. He wanted Tiger to live up to his potential, realize that he was gifted. Earl pushed his son to be a better golfer but more so because he just wanted him to grow up to be a good person.

12 Tiger Was Treated As An Equal, Not A Kid

When Tiger was a kid, he was still doing things people a decade or older than him weren’t able to achieve. He had to grow up quickly. His parents and the way they raised him helped with that. Earl didn’t treat the young Tiger as a kid. Tiger was treated as an equal. It worked as they soon transcended the family bond and became best friends.

11 Tiger Was Extremely Competitive In Everything He Did

To be great, competitiveness is essential. Tiger was born with that competitive streak. He was competitive when it came to everything, not just golf. When the family was eating, he’d want to finish his plate first, when he had a glass of water, he’d want to down it before anyone else.

10 His Psychological Game Was Already On Point

Earl Woods trained to be a prisoner of war interrogator. He’d learn different psychological techniques, his own nerves had been hardened and he knew what made people crack. He passed all this knowledge onto a young Tiger, taught him how to harness all of this information for the benefit of his golfing game.

9 Played With A Putter Before Walking

When a child shows an interest in a golf club before being able to walk, chances are that baby’s going to grow ever fonder of the club when growing up. Baby Tiger was crawling around and had an affinity to a putter before he was even able to stand on his feet.

8 Was Beating Adults At Putting Contests Aged Three

Imagine beating adults at golfing contests at the age of three! It’s remarkable, but at the age of three, Tiger had already claimed his first scalp. He took on comedian and avid golfer Bob Hope in a putting competition on a talk show and stunned the man and everyone else by emerging victorious.

7 Aged Five Woods Appeared On That's Incredible!

Even at the age of five people were hearing about Tiger Woods and what a prodigious golfing talent he was. He was being invited to events along with his dad. At the tender age of five, he appeared on a popular television show at the time called That’s Incredible! It was his first taste of the cameras and media attention.

6 His Dad Devoted Himself To Tiger’s Golfing

There are some naysayers that have labeled Earl Woods as a cruel disciplinarian, a pushy parent. His dad simply saw that Tiger had a talent and that he loved the sport of golf, and steered him in the right direction, giving him all the tools and necessary guidance so that he was able to be the best he could be.

5 Earl Purposely Distracting Him Whilst He Was Golfing

If Tiger was going to hit the big time, he had to be prepared for anything. Earl knew this and prepared Tiger for every eventuality. At times, when they were practicing, Earl would purposely distract his son. It forced the young Tiger to concentrate, focus on his golf and block out all unnecessary distractions.

4 His Mom Engrained The Ideals Of Buddhism Within Him

Tiger’s mom, Kultida Woods, is a practicing Buddhist. She was born in Thailand which is where she had Buddhism engrained within her. She helped pass on these practices to her son. Tiger may be quite temperamental, get flustered at times, but he credits Buddhism for helping him focus, and ultimately, his success as a golfer.

3 Won His First Competition Aged Eight

When Tiger started competing, entering tournaments and playing with the big boys, there was no going back. He started winning for fun, got the bug and it’s never left him. Aside from practicing with his father, Tiger would hone his skills playing youth tournaments. He won his first professional competition aged eight.

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2 Went To Great Lengths To Play

When Tiger was a youngster, his dad used to play on the Navy Golf Course. Tiger played with his dad, but wasn’t allowed to do so at that course. He couldn’t wait, wanted to play all the time. So, he would sneak into the course and go to extreme lengths to play with his dad. He’d lay under a bridge, cover himself in rocks and attempt to blend into the terrain in order to make himself less obvious to officials.

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1 Was Always Called Tiger, Despite That Not Being His Name

Tiger – it’s an unusual name, to say the least, one that’s synonymous with the great golfer. But Tiger isn’t his actual name. Tiger’s full name is Eldrick Tont Woods. But right from when he was an infant, his family called him Tiger. He’s a Tiger in their eyes and in the eyes of golf fans too and always will be.

Sources - Golf Digest, Notable Biographies

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