Eldrick Woods was born in Cypress, California to Earl Woods, an African American retired lieutenant colonel from the American Army, and Kutilda Woods, a Thai national. His nickname Tiger was patterned after the nickname of his father’s friend Vuong Dang Phong, a Vietnamese soldier
Even at a very tender age, Tiger Woods showed a keen interest in golf, as when he was only six months old, he tried to imitate his father and watch him hit golf balls into a net. At two years old he already appeared on the Mike Douglas Show playing golf with Bob Hope. At the age of five he was featured in Golf Digest and he made an appearance in ‘That’s Incredible’ in ABC. At eight years old he showcased his talents in Good Morning America and won the 1884 Junior World Golf Championships. During the ages of 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15 his golfing skills were unparalleled, being the youngest player to have ever won the Optimist International Junior tournament and only player to have won multiple times.
As a boy, Tiger loved skateboarding and riding the bicycle, but he also had trouble speaking. Tiger overcame this by possessing an intense desire to win and by talking to the family dog. He studied high school in Anaheim, California at Western High School. The usual challenges of adolescence and high school did little to prevent Tiger from soaring and playing the game that he loved. It was in 1992, when Tiger was only 16 years old, when he entered his very first professional golf tournament. This was the 1992 Nissan Los Angeles Open. The following year Tiger joined three PGA Tour competitions. In 1994 he joined three more PGA Tour events and placed 34th in the Johnnie Walker Asian Classic in Thailand. It was also that year when Tiger triumphed in the Western Amateur. He represented the United States in the World Amateur Golf Team Championships which was held in France. Tiger was the youngest player to have won that event. It was the year 1995 when Tiger won the Walker Cup Match in Wales.
During the length of Tiger’s amateur golf career he had won an impressive three consecutive US Amateur title also being the youngest to have done so. He was the youngest ever to have won the US Junior Amateur and the only player to have won more than once. Tiger studied at Stanford University for two years, but he decided to leave college and pursue a life as a professional golfer.
It was when Tiger won the U.S. Masters in 1997, at the age of 21, with a magnificent score of 270, did his star truly shine being the youngest and the first ever African American to have done so. In the course of the years Tiger have won the 1999 and 2000 US PGA title. He also won the US Open in 2000 and 2002 and U.S. Masters in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 Tiger would win five more tournaments including the Buick Invitational and the Western Open. In 2004 Tiger married his long time girlfriend and Swedish model Elin Nordegren. In 2005 he won six major tournaments and was hailed the PGA Tour Player of Year, his seventh time in a span of nine years.
In 2006 Tiger would suffer a devastating loss when his father Earl, then 74 years old, would succumb to prostrate cancer. Tiger tried to play at the US Open that same year but his grief is evident as he failed to qualify for the major, his very first time to have done so in his career.
Tiger was able to overcome this and won various events including the British Open and the PGA Championship. It was also in 2006 that Tiger would open the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, California. He spent $5 million on the Center with the purpose of guiding and mentoring children from 10 to 18 years of age. The foundation also offers some academic courses and programs for the children. Tiger also hosts an annual concert called ‘Tiger Jam’ which is a fundraiser for Tiger’s foundation. In 2007 he won the US PGA Championship and the World Golf Championship. In February 2008, Tiger won his third WGC Match Play Championship title.
I’m pretty sure Tiger Woods would win more golf tournaments but when one looks at Tiger Woods, one does not simply see an accomplished athlete and a golf player. One sees a man driven by excellence and honed through time. His sheer talent leaves one in awe but his quiet strength and his innate love to help others in need are the qualities that are even more inspiring and that merits him the title of a legend in the making.
Skydiving is perhaps one of the most exciting hobbies or sports to get into. This particular activity elicits such a sure of adrenaline rush that most people get into it because of the different kind of stress relief which it can bring. However, skydiving is not as easy as it seems. You do not simply get out of a thousand miles up there jet plane only to jump after doing the sign of the cross. Skydiving is also an extreme sport in the sense that you never know what you’ll likely expect when you are a thousand miles up and floating in the air.
So before you take that air plunge, the first things you need to know are the basics of skydiving. And on top of it all, you must be familiar with the right skydiving gears highly specialized for the occasion. If you simply take the plunge without considering these essential skydiving gears, you might end up not surviving at all. Yes, you should definitely not forget the fact that skydiving is a very risky sport. So as much as it is fun to engage into it, do not forget that you are actually putting your life on the line as you are doing it.
Among the most important skydiving gears you must have is a parachute. Nobody will ever be that bold to jump out of a plane, thousands high up without a parachute to back him up. No amount of mattresses can save your life with the impact of such a fall. But if it will be your first time to skydive, you should definitely consider some professional help before you skydive. The best place to do this would be in a skydiving center. Here you will be presented with certified and updated skydiving gears which also met current standards. Not only is this option safe but it will also cost you less since you are not purchasing from a commercial store.
Then after settling with the right parachute, the next most important skydiving gear you must have is a jumpsuit. You can never go skydiving with just some other type or sports apparel or a pair of jeans and shirt. Jumping high up in the air will expose you to various elements such as strong winds and other atmospheric conditions. You have to have the total protection. Wearing a jumpsuit helps buffer up your body so that it can be protected against the strong resistance of air. Moreover, jumpsuits are very strong so they will not get torn apart when exposed to the strong winds. Not only will it be able to protect you while you’re on air but it can also prevent you from getting cuts and bruises as you land on the ground.
As you get those things covered, the next thing you need to work out with is the automatic activation device also known as the AAD. This particular type of equipment is essential because it automatically triggers your parachute to open should you have any difficulty of doing it manually. What it does is to detect your current speed in going down from the jump. As it detects the programmed speed and if you haven’t opened up your chute yet, the AAD will automatically open a back up chute and save your life.
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Rafael Nadal Parera was born in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain on June 3, 1986 to Sebastian, a restaurant owner and businessman and Ana Maria. He stands at 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 189 pounds. He plays tennis with a left hand but is actually right handed off the court.
Known as simply Rafael Nadal or Rafa, this young man has ranked consistently as the number two tennis player in the world since July, 2005 next only to the great Roger Federer. Nadal started his interest in tennis at a very tender age. He played his very first tennis championship tournament at the age of 8 in Baleares.
Nadal became a tennis professional in 2001 when he was just 15 years old, winning his first ATP match and becoming the ninth player to have done so before reaching 16 years old. In 2003, when Nadal was only 16, he ranked among the top 100 singles player of the world. He was the second-youngest tennis player to have ever done so. At 17, Nadal’s debut at the Wimbledon earned him the honor of being the youngest male player to have reached the third round since 1984 after the 16-year old Boris Becker.
2005 was definitely Nadal’s year as he won two ATP Masters Series events in Rome and Monte Carlo. It was also in this year that Nadal won 24 consecutive games, breaking the record of Andre Agassi in winning 23 matches in a row in 1988. In May, 2005, Nadal had reached the top 5 ranking in the world making him the youngest player to enter the top 10 since Andrei Medvedev in 1993.
On his 19th birthday Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open. Two days later Nadal championed the French Open, garnering the title of being the fourth youngest tennis player to have done so. He also won his first Grand Slam event and was only the seventh player to have triumphed in their first attempt. Nadal also holds the honor of being one of the only two players in the world to have won at Roland Garros in their first try. Nadal was the first teenager to have a Grand Slam singles title since the 19-year old Pete Sampras won the 1990 US Open. Since the win of Agassi in 1988, Nadal was the first teenager to have triumphed in at least six titles in the same year.
In May of 2006, Nadal crushed Federer in the Rome Masters giving him the record of winning 53 games in a row on clay. It was also in this year that Nadal went on to again conquer Federer in the 2006 French Open. He was ecstatic with his victory saying “Federer is the best player in history - no other player has ever had such quality.”
By April of 2007, Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters against Federer but Federer took revenge by winning the Hamburg Masters title against Nadal. However, in June, 2007 Nadal won his third consecutive French Open title against Roger Federer in the finals.
Most professionals tend to like playing golf during their spare time. Because of this, most people tend to have an impression that golf is a game of professionals such as top executives. However, there’s just something about golf that makes it quite an appealing sport especially for these so-called business professionals and executives. It is mainly because the said sport is very relaxing yet competitive at the same time. It poses a subtle challenge to those who play it without implicating a very stressful vibe.
Moreover, golf courses are also among the main factors why most people choose the said sport. In the US alone, there are plenty of golf courses that are such appealing and eye-catching venues for most golfers—amateurs and professionals alike. Most of these golf courses in the US are also characterized by the fact that they really vary in terms of physical and territorial appearance. It can also happen that golf courses have both the characteristics found within a smooth and a rugged terrain.
Among the top choices when it comes to golf courses in the US is Pebble Beach Golf Links. It is actually such an icon on its own and even became critically acclaimed. It has started to make a mark in the golf scene back in 1919 and was a top ranking golf course back in 2005 based on the US’ Golf Digest. The said golf course owes much of its popularity on its beautiful terrain. Most of its golf holes are incorporated throughout its ragged coastline and is crafted beautifully along the Pacific Ocean. Because of its intricate detail and its inherent beauty, the Pebble Beach Golf Links often becomes a host among major golf tournaments. It is also the home of US Open Championships.
Another popular golf course in the US is Pinehurst Resort and Country Club. This particular golf course holds a lot of historical value since it was built way back in 1895. It also gained its fame because of the eight different golf courses found within it, thus allowing flexibility and variations among golf players. It is pretty easy to be immersed in playing golf here because it spans 2,000 acres and with eight different courses to choose from. It can easily become a haven for golf enthusiasts who wanted to hone their golfing skills even further.
A golf course found in North Las Vegas has gained its fame because it was popularly incepted by architect Tom Brizio. This golf course is Shadow Creek. It is often included as a package among MGM Properties. Once a person makes reservation at the golf course while in Vegas, a limousine will be picking you up on the stated schedule of playing. The limousine will be your service to and from your hotel. Shadow Creek has also gained its popularity from the lush and beautiful environment which golfers get to face on their way to the golf course. While there, it is highly recommended that golf players check out the eighteenth hole. This particular hole is actually the entire golf course’s highlight because of its intricate craftsmanship.
Scuba diving is a thrilling adventure. Once people experience scuba diving, it is not unusual for them to be hooked for life. They usually look for every chance they can get to explore the mysterious world that lies beneath the sea.
Scuba divers typically plan their vacation around the sport and can spend much time getting to and from their diving spots. A liveaboard is a great alternative to a land-based scuba diving vacation. You will cut out the travel time and be able to spend it where you want to, under the sea.
Be Free to Explore Uncharted Waters
On a land-based scuba diving vacation, you will need to spend time traveling to your boat and from there, to the dive spot of the day. On a liveaboard, you merely board your boat upon your arrival and jump off the side when the seas promise untold treasures just waiting to be discovered by you.
Typically the best dive spots are far out to sea, so with a land-based scuba vacation, you may not be able to access the better diving spots available. A liveaboard scuba diving vacation allows you to explore new waters each day, and you can even enjoy the almost mystical experience of diving at night.
Your Friends will be Many
Another advantage of a scuba diving liveaboard vacation is the people who will be traveling with you. They too are avid enthusiasts of scuba diving, and joining together in the evenings to discuss the day’s findings will be the highlight of your day.
What to Expect
Typically your schedule might look something like this; wake in the morning and join your fellow passengers for breakfast. You then will go to the area where you will be briefed about the day’s events. You will go to your gear, suit up and just fall off the boat. When you get back from your morning dive, a hot shower will await you. Have a snack before you return to the water for the second dive of the day. Lunchtime will have the crew taking you to your next dive site. This will be repeated several times throughout the day, allowing you to take one dive after another.
Generally a liveaboard scuba vacation will last for seven days. You will be able to dive for at least five or six of those days.
Where You might Go
Some of the best diving spots in the world can be found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. You are not limited to just those places; you can dive the waters of the Mediterranean, the Pacific Ocean as well as a host of other waters just waiting for you to explore.
Popular liveaboard dive destinations are Belize, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and the Bay Islands.
Is It Expensive?
It is easier than ever to find the right price for a vacation such as this. The internet is a powerful tool that enables the user to visit all kinds of travel sites looking for a great deal.
A scuba diving liveaboard vacation will include your meals, snacks and beverages while you are on board, though the final dinner before you depart may not be included. This type of vacation is no more expensive than any other, and you can rest assured you will get your money’s worth.
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