Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson and the 40 greatest L.A. sports athletes

Number 3: Tiger Woods

The greatest golfer of this era Tiger Woods is a product of public and military golf course in Southern California having grown up in Cypress, California. Woods was child prodigy who was taught by his father Earl Woods, who used his military credentials to get his son on those military golf courses.

In high school at Western High in Anaheim, California Woods became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur winning at the age of fifteen in 1994. He would win the title three consecutive times, a record still not broken. Woods won three high school golf titles and was named the top male athlete in high school in 1993. It was while he was still in high school Woods played in his first PGA tournament playing as an amateur in 1992 in the Nissan Los Angeles Open.

After dominating college golf winning an NCAA individual title Woods turned professional at the age of 20. Since turning pro Woods has won a record setting 82 PGA tour tournaments, he is second behind Jack Nicklaus with 15 major wins and he has been the most dominant force in golf ever since.

Woods has been named the Associated Press athlete of the year four times and Sports Illustrated Sportsmen of the Year twice. He has been recognized for making golf in his era as “must see television” with his final round on Sundays being higher rated than when other players are in the lead. Even his self imposed hiatus due to personal issues have not taken away his recognition as the greatest golfer on the planet.