Tiger Woods' Birthday: Highlighting 36-Year-Old's Greatest Career Moments

On this day 36 years ago, Eldrick Tont Woods was brought into this world. 

While Tiger hasn't won a major since 2008, one thing is clear as we near the end of 2011. If Tiger never wins another tournament or major, he's one of the best golfers in the history of the game. 

When someone's done as much as Tiger has, it's hard to narrow his career down to a few moments. Still, someone has to do it. 

In addition to what he's done on the course, Tiger has done a lot off of it. Some of it's good, some of it's not. But here, we'll be keeping our focus on the course. There's more than enough to work with.

Follow @mdixon1985

Brilliant Amateur Career

If you want to find a player whose accomplishments as an amateur match Woods', you will have to go back to Bobby Jones. There have been other amateurs to accomplish a lot, but none did as much as Woods when the greatest spotlight was on.

Tiger won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He then turned around and won the U.S. Amateur in 1994, 1995 and 1996. 

In 1996, he had a solid come-from-behind win to beat Steve Scott in 36 holes. That opened the door for the most anticipated professional debut in golf memory. Woods would not disappoint. 

1996 Las Vegas Invitational: First Career Win

It did not take long for Woods to show what he could do with the big boys. It took Woods a little more than a month to notch his first professional win.

When he did, it came in a playoff against one of the best in the world at the time, Davis Love III. 

Woods started the Las Vegas Invitational (now the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open) in unimpressive fashion, shooting a 70 in the first of the five-round tournament. He then fired back with a 63, 68, 67 and 64, forcing Love to fight his way into a playoff. 

Once there, Woods made quick work of Love, winning his first of 71 career events.

1997 Masters: First Career Major

The Masters is generally a close tournament. Even if it's decided by a few shots, it's usually not until the final holes on Sunday that we know who the winner will be. 

That was not the case in 1997.

Woods started the tournament with a 40 on the front nine and made virtually no mistakes after. He fired a 30 on the back nine and came back with a 66, 65 and 69.

When it was over, he was 18 under par and had won by 12 shots. Both were records that still stand.

This was not only the first major win for Tiger, but was the first major he entered as a professional. 

2000 U.S. Open

The U.S. Open is generally a tournament where the winning score is right around par. Sometimes it's just below, sometimes it's just above, but that's a pretty good standard. 

That was not the case in 2000.

Tiger went wire-to-wire. When it was over, he was at 12-under-par. No other player broke par.

Rory McIlroy broke the scoring record in 2011. As great as McIlroy's performance was, he ran away from a field that was playing in one of the lower scoring U.S. Opens ever played. The players closest to Woods were three over par. 

2000 British Open: Career Grand Slam

It was only his fourth career major, but when Woods won at St. Andrew's in 2000, he had a career Grand Slam.

He had not yet turned 25. 

Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen are the only other players to have that honor. 

2000 PGA Championsip

Until the 2000 PGA Championship, every major that Tiger had won was a strong win.

The 1999 PGA was the closest thing to a scare, but even that's a little different. It was only a one-shot win, but Sergio Garcia staged a comeback to even get that close. All Woods had to do was play defense. 

In 2000, he had to attack. Bob May kept coming at Tiger in a way that nobody had before. Their exchange of putts on the 18th hole is unforgettable. 

When they finally did arrive at a playoff, Woods finally put May away. He made a nice birdie on the first playoff hole and then matched May on the final two, walking away with a hard-fought victory.

2001 Masters: Tiger Slam

Only four other players have a career Grand Slam. When Tiger won the 2001 Masters, he had all four majors in his possession at one time. 

Whether that's a true Grand Slam or not is a matter of some debate. Bobby Jones won the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, British Amateur and British Open in 1930. At the time, that was a Grand Slam. 

No other golfer has come anywhere near a single-season Grand Slam. Whether it's a "Grand Slam" or a "Tiger Slam," it's the most impressive thing that any golfer since Jones has done. 

2005 Masters: The Shot

You won't find many shots better than this one. Tiger hadn't won a major since the 2002 U.S. Open. At the time, that was a massive drought. 

He had a one-stroke lead over Chris DiMarco, who had a makeable birdie putt on the 16th hole. You can see how Tiger responded. 

DiMarco missed the putt, but consecutive bogeys from Woods brought about a playoff. Woods won it with a birdie on the first hole.

2006 British Open

Before the 2006 British Open, Tiger had his dad to go to at the end of every tournament. As Earl's health diminished, he wasn't able to to physically be at every tournament, but he was always a phone call away. 

In May of 2006, Earl passed away. Tiger didn't play at all between the Masters and U.S. Open that season. When he went to the U.S. Open, he missed the cut for the first time at a major (as a pro). 

His next one was more successful. Tiger survived a tough fight from Chris DiMarco and came away with a two-shot win. When it was over, he fell into the arms of then caddie and friend Steve Williams. 

2008 U.S. Open

Something was obviously wrong with Tiger. He was limping after every shot at the 2008 U.S. Open.

He hadn't played in a tournament since the Masters. But the 2008 U.S. Open was at Torrey Pines, a course he owned. 

Playing with the lead on Sunday, Woods fell behind. With Rocco Mediate in the clubhouse, Tiger needed a birdie on the final hole to force a Monday playoff.

He got it.

The Monday battle had many turns, but Tiger again needed a birdie on the final hole to force a sudden-death playoff. He got it, although in less dramatic fashion. When Mediate missed his birdie, a playoff was on. 

Finally, on the 91st hole of the tournament, Woods put Mediate away. He hasn't won a major since.