Tiger Woods

BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and commentator Katherine Downes look at the extraordinary life and career of one of the greatest players in Open Championship history – Tiger Woods.

Iain travels to Adare Manor in Ireland to talk to the man himself about what The Open means to him as he prepares for the 150th Championship at St Andrews.

You’ll hear at length from Steve Williams, his former caddie who was on the bag for Woods for 13 of his 15 major wins, on how they spoke daily about trying to beat Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 major victories.

We look back on some of his greatest achievements - from winning four consecutive majors in 2000 and 2001 to earn the “Tiger slam”, being crowned US Open champion at Torrey Pines in 2008 with a broken leg, his unlikely “redemption” win at The Masters in 2019 and of course, lifting three Claret Jugs in sensational style.

The Golf Channel’s Jaime Diaz was one of the first journalists to get to know Tiger Woods at the age of 14. He joins the pod to talk about how he developed into one of the greatest golfers of all-time.

USA Today columnist Christine Brennan explores how Woods’ image has changed and evolved in the media spotlight in recent years following three high-profile incidents with cars, personal scandal and injury.

TOPICS:

1’00” – Eldrick Tont Woods - nominative determinism?

6’42” – Is he the most famous sports star there has ever been?

13’06” – Tiger Woods’ fans on why they support him

14’35” – Tiger Woods on what The Open Championship means to him

17’25” – Woods’ childhood

23’38” – How race fuelled his career

31’30” – Steve Williams on the achievement of the “Tiger slam”

38’30” – Woods’ extraordinary US Open win at Torrey Pines with a broken leg in 2008

41’50” – Tiger Woods’ three Open Championship titles

49’50” – Woods’ aim of surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ majors record

51’14” – How Tiger has transcended his sport

54’30” – Tiger Woods – the man in the media spotlight

58’00” – Car crashes, personal scandal and injury