Today in Performance Sneaker History: Tiger Woods Wins the 1994 US Amateur Championship

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Yesterday, Sneaker Report flashed back to the 1995 US Amateur Championship, where Tiger Woods picked up his second consecutive win at the event. By winning the championship twice back-to-back (and eventually a third consecutive time), Tiger cemented himself as one of the top young golfers to watch. His professional success is well documented, but some fans may not realize just how good Tiger was early in his career.

On August 28, 1994, at the Amateur Championship at TPC at Sawgrass, Tiger Woods made history by winning his fourth USGA title and becoming the youngest player to ever win the U.S. Amateur Championship at age 18. This record stood for 14 years until the slightly younger Danny Lee won the title in 2008. But Woods' record-setting victory didn't come easy; with just nine holes remaining in the stretch, Woods was three strokes behind. Before long, Woods has evened up with Texas' Trip Kuehne, and eventually built a two-stroke lead. Woods would go onto win the 1994 Championship, making history and beginning his path to three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles.

It would be another two years before Woods inked his endorsement deal with Nike, but that didn't stop a young Woods from donning a Nike polo during this historic tournament. Eventually, the partnership between Tiger and Nike would lead to the longest-running golf signature sneaker line in history. Look back on Tiger's Swoosh models over the years with The Complete History of Tiger Woods’ Signature Nike Golf Spikes.

RELATED: Today in Performance Sneaker History: Tiger Woods Wins the 1995 US Amateur Championship

RELATED: Nike Golf Debuts Tiger Woods’ PGA Championship Shirt