Rare throwback footage shows two-year golf prodigy Tiger Woods hitting shots in his very first television appearance in 1978.

Tiger Woods has been in the spotlight since he could walk.

The 15-time major winner is a global icon and arguably the greatest golfer to ever play the game.

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The 48-year-old was a child prodigy who was introduced to golf before the age of two by his former military father, Earl Woods.

Earl’s harsh methods left an indelible mark on the young Tiger and undoubtedly made him one of the fiercest competitors in the sport.

Woods’ precocious talent was evident from the start, and he appeared on a Los Angeles television report that showed several toddlers at a local driving range.

Mike Douglas, host of the television show The Mike Douglas Show, saw the segment and noticed that one young person in particular stood out and invited him on the show.

That youngster was two-year-old Tiger Woods, who appeared on the show with his father Earl on the same day that comedian Bob Hope and actor Jimmy Stewart were also in the studio.

The shy-looking youngster entered the studio with a red cap and a golf bag before hitting a few balls onto an artificial grass mat and making a few putts.

“I remember seeing this in my dorm lounge my senior year of college. I remember thinking, ‘I have to keep an eye on this kid…’ one fan later said .

“It’s amazing to see a legend born,” added another.

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In a 2000 interview, Douglas discussed the segment with Woods, telling the Cincinnati Enquirer how he first spotted it.

“(Tiger) stood out like a sore thumb, because they were all swinging like babies, and he was swinging like he does now,” he recalled.

After appearing on his show, Douglas said, “Tiger hit two balls 10 feet from the hole, then walked over and placed a golf ball on the rim of the cup. The studio was screaming; Mr. Hope burst out laughing.

Michael Bamberger, author of “The Second Life of Tiger Woods,” said: “If you look here at 2-year-old Tiger, what you see to me is a shy, unassuming kid who is happy to let his clubs do the talking.

“Of course he has no idea that Bob Hope and Jimmy Stewart are icons, and why would he? Their role is to watch him.

“He shows a natural pace, very much in line with the way his father ran the club at that time. The club is certainly far too heavy for him.

“I guess Tiger looks at the Mike Douglas swing that he made, likes the rhythm, and he also likes the way his first swing is inside, rightfully so. He’s inside but the body turns.”

Three years later, Woods, aged five, appeared on the television show That’s Incredible in a segment hosted by Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton.

From there, Woods dominated the junior golf circuit, winning the World Junior Championships six times, including four consecutive victories from 1988 to 1991.

He turned professional in 1996 after competing at the collegiate level at Stanford University, which marked the start of a storied professional career.

Unfortunately, Woods is no longer the preeminent force in golf.

Age, injuries and personal problems have all played a part in his decline, while a new generation of golf stars, led by world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler, are now having their moment in the sun.

Woods missed the cut at this week’s PGA Championship after a disastrous second-round performance left him seven over par to exit the tournament.

Despite the disappointment, Tiger’s legacy endures.

Pictures from his younger years remind us how incredible his journey was.