n 1996 Tiger Woods burst onto the PGA Tour with two victories and three other top-10 finishes in his first eight pro events, becoming an instant star and attracting a new wave of young fans. In 1997, the 21-year-old became the youngest player—and the first African-American—to win The Masters. It was an achievement for the ages. Nearly 50 years to the day after Jackie Robinson broke major league baseball's color barrier, Woods won at Augusta National, a club that no black man was allowed to join until six years ago, a tournament whose founder, Clifford Roberts, once said, "As long as I'm alive, golfers will be white, and caddies will be black." Woods won three 1997 PGA Tour events in addition to The Masters, and became the first player in history to earn more than $2 million in prize money in a season. photograph by Michael O'Neill text by Rick Reilly With his brilliant Masters victory, 21-year-old Tiger Woods became the first African-American to win a major. With his tremendous skill and charisma, Woods has not only taken his sport to a higher level and increased its popularity but also dramatically changed the look and age of those who play and follow golf.
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