PRESS — By itself, the name would be notable only for the nice way it sounds: Tiger Woods.
But when linked with golf, the game Eldrick (Tiger) Woods of Cypress plays so well, visions of marketing dance through heads. The nickname was given to him by his father, Earl Woods, who says it wasn't intended to be a marketing ploy.
"That wasn't the basic motivation, although it is apropos," said Earl Woods. "It will probably stick with him the rest of his life because he will use that and probably branch out in to all kinds of logos and all kinds of things, (such as) 'The Tiger is coming.' "
Next year, Woods, 14, will attempt to become the youngest player to qualify for a PGA Tour event when he tries to earn a starting spot in the Los Angeles Open.
For now, the PGA Tour is safe. The exploits likely will come later for Tiger, who many say is the most dominant Southern California junior golfer ever.
He has won his age division of the Junior World Championships four times, once more than any other boy; and last summer, he finished second at the National Insurance Youth Golf Classic in Texarkana, Texas. At that tournament, which is for players 17-and-under, Woods was the youngest entrant. He finished seven strokes ahead of David Duval, the 18-year-old Florida amateur who made the cut in last week's U.S. Open.
"In my opinion he doesn't even have to get better," said Rudy Duran, the director of golf at Chalk Mountain Golf Course in Atascadero who coached Woods until Tiger was 10. "He's going to shoot lower because he'll continue to hit farther until he is completely physically developed."
Woods first picked up a golf club when he was 11 months old. He started competing at age 4, becoming somewhat of a legend in Southern California junior golf.
At age 2, Woods putted against Bob Hope on the "Mike Douglas Show." At age 5, he was featured on "That's Incredible!"
"The unique thing about Tiger is he was really such a fine golfer when he was so young," said Duran. "He was a polished golfer at 5 and 6. It was amazing to watch."
But golf observers say what's truly amazing is that he has maintained that polish in the years that have followed although he has doubled in size.
"He could be the next Jack Nicklaus or better than Nicklaus, that remains to be seen," Duran said. "But it wouldn't surprise me one bit.
"On his good days and their bad days, he could easily beat some of the best players in the world."
