Tiger Woods is among the favourites for this week’s 2019 PGA Championship, where the world’s most recognisable golfer is looking for another triumph against the game’s elite.
The 43-year-old has 81 PGA Tour wins, but remains a long way from recapturing the form that saw him win nine titles in 2000.
So far this year, he has won around £2.5 million in prize money, adding to the £102m he had made from tournaments in an illustrious sporting career.
Woods’ father, Earl Dennison Woods, played a pivotal role in his son’s early development following an eventful working life of his own.
Woods’ Thai mother, Kultida Punsawad, married Earl Dennison in 1969 after meeting him during an army tour the previous year.
A Bangkok-born philanthropist through the Tiger Woods Foundation, Kultida gave birth to Tiger in 1975. The 75-year-old now lives in Florida, close to her son’s home.
As a US Army infantry officer, Earl served two tours of duty in Vietnam and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel by the time of his retirement in 1974.
The Kansas-born serviceman was involved in the Vietnam War and won several awards and medals, specialising later in military science and Tactics.
Earl played baseball at college but introduced his son to golf at a very early age and acted as his coach during his dazzling start in the sport.
Speaking about the influence of his father, Woods said: “He was instrumental in a lot of the guidance he gave me before I turned pro.
“He helped me to go in the right direction and then basically phased himself out.
“He said, ‘you’re going to make all the decisions – I can’t be here forever.
“I’m going to teach you how to do these things but ultimately you’re going to have to do it for yourself.
“It was neat to have that opportunity to have dad help me.”
Before Earl’s death in 2006, Tiger and his father opened the Tiger Woods Learning Centre in California, where young people are encouraged to pursue a positive education.
“Without his guidance, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to do some of the things I’ve done away from the golf course.
“The learning centre and the development of my foundation has grown exponentially over my lifetime.”
After Earl died, Nike produced an advert showing footage of his life with Tiger.
Writing in his book, Playing Through, Earl produced a letter to Tiger, writing: “Dear Tiger, you are my little man – my treasure.
“You mean more to me than life itself. I pass all of my abilities to share and to care to you.”
Woods, who was born Eldrick Tont Woods, has two children of his own. His daughter, Sam Alexis, arrived in 2007, before his son, Charlie Axel, was born in 2009.