Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open in what many consider to be the greatest single performance in major history. (Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports)

Tiger Woods Timeline – Major steps

August 15, 1999 – Wins PGA championship.
June 18, 2000 – Wins U.S. Open by 15 shots (right), the largest margin in US Open history.
July 23, 2000 – Wins Open Championship.
September 14, 2000 – His five-year endorsement contract with Nike is worth an estimated $85 million, making it the richest endorsement contract in sports history.
June 16, 2002 – Wins his second U.S. Open.
December 8, 2003 – Named PGA Player of the Year for the fifth straight year.
2004 – Woods earns $86.3 million, $80 million of which comes from endorsement deals.
May 13, 2005 – Misses cut at Byron Nelson Championship. It is the first time since 1998 that Woods fails to make the weekend.
November 23, 2005 – Wins PGA Grand Slam of Golf for a record-breaking sixth time.
May 3, 2006 – Earl Woods dies of prostate cancer.
July 23, 2006 – Wins third British Open.
August 20, 2006 – Wins third PGA Championship.
August 12, 2007 – Wins fourth PGA Championship.
April 15, 2008 – Has arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. He had two prior surgeries on the same knee.