Earl Woods

AP_490430559978

Tiger Woods was born in Cypress, California, to Earl and Kultida Woods. Kultida, originally from Thailand (where Earl had met her on a tour of duty in 1968). Earl, was a retired lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran. He was nicknamed Tiger in honor of his father's friend Col. Vuong Dang Phong, who had also been known as Tiger. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)