Woods is worth $40 million and much more

was getting. My curiosity got the best of me.

by Jim Martin sports editor

I will admit it. I am now a golf fan.

And the one and only reason I am now a golf fan is Tiger Woods.

A couple of years ago, I would not have even thought twice about watching golf.

However, then I started hearing more and more about Tiger Woods.

Last year, I decided to see what all the fuss about Tiger Woods was about. I could not believe all the attention Woods

Woods was going for his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title. Things looked very bleak for Woods before he made an incredible comeback to win his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title.

From that point on, I was hooked.

Woods has a charisma and a style of play that I have never seen before.

When Woods announced he was turning pro and he had signed a reported $40 million endorsement deal with Nike, many people were shocked.

They could not understand how a golfer who had not even played a professional tournament could get a contract for $40 million.

Woods then went out and won the first tournament he entered as a pro.

Coming into the Masters, there was a lot of talk surrounding Woods.

Jack Nicklaus and many other golf greats had predicted that Woods would become the best golfer ever and there was a lot of pressure on Woods as he began the Masters.

Woods started off the Masters in some trouble as he was four over after the first nine holes.

However, from that point on, Woods put on one of the most unbelievable performances ever seen in sports.

Woods regrouped on the back nine and finished the day at two under.

At the age of 21, Tiger Woods became the youngest player to ever win the Masters championship.

And he did not just win the Masters, he won it in a fashion that has never been seen before.

Woods, playing in his first major as a pro, blew the entire field away as he won the Masters by a record 12 strokes over second place finisher Tom Kite.

I followed the Masters tournament this weekend like I follow the NCAA tournament.

I was glued to my seat as I watched in awe as Tiger Woods tore apart a golf course that some of the best golfers in the world could not handle.

Some of the noteworthy names that did not even make the cut were defending champion Nick Faldo along with Greg

Norman and Phil Mickelson.

Tiger Woods has transformed golf.

Every weekend a golf tournament is on I check to see how Woods is doing.

It is not that I am such a big fan of Woods, it is just that I find myself mesmerized at some of the things he does on a golf course.

He is the best thing that has ever happened to golf and he has increased the popularity of golf more than any player ever has.

Nike was criticized by -some people after they gave Woods $40 million.

Obviously, Nike knew a bargain when they saw one.

Tiger Woods is worth the $40 million Nike gave him and a whole lot more.