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Tiger Woods
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490 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2018
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5665 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Benedict
38 books173 followersJeff Benedict conducted the first national study on sexual assault and athletes. He has published three books on athletes and crime, including a blistering exposé on the NFL, Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL, and Public Heroes, Private Felons: Athletes and Crimes Against Women. He is a lawyer and an investigative journalist who has written five books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 723 reviews
April 29, 2018
400 pages of complex devastation. A few pages of hopeful redemption. Ultimately, a book about how parenting shapes us.
April 13, 2018
So maybe I'm not the audience for this book--I don't really like gold or gossip about famous people. The book felt to me a bit unethical--like maybe you shouldn't write an unauthorized biography about someone still living. I would love to hear the story from Tiger himself or someone still close to him. I liked Open by Aggassi (or at least liked it better than this) even though I don't care about Aggassi or tennis. I was hoping that this would be an illuminating profile, but mostly I felt guilty for reading it.
March 8, 2020
I probably prefer to read about golf than watch it. The psychology of the game fascinates me. Players have so much time to think about their shots, more than in any other sport. They don't have team-mates to rely on, though the advice of a good caddie is invaluable. A golfer can have all the ability in the world, but if they don't have the mental strength to go with it, they'll win nothing.
So I was intrigued to learn more about Tiger Woods, the greatest player in the history of golf. It's easy to forget how incredible Woods was at his peak. To burst onto the scene as he did as a twenty-one-year old, winning the Masters by 12 shots, was absolutely unheard of. Over the next decade, he went on to set records that may never be beaten. He changed the face of the sport, single-handedly increasing its popularity across the globe and making a lot of his peers and backers very wealthy indeed.
But all that success came at a cost. Has there even been a sportsperson who has had such a fall from grace? With his multiple infidelities splashed across the tabloids, Woods was humiliated. He lost his family, sponsors deserted him and he went on to suffer several injuries that could have ended his career.
This book does not shy away from his transgressions, and goes into shocking detail about how low he sank. It also gives an intriguing insight into his relationship with his father. There is no doubt that Earl Woods moulded his son into an unstoppable winning machine. But it's also easy to see where Tiger picked up his womanising habits, seeing his old man cheat on his mother Kultida every chance he got.
His exploits on the course are compelling in their own right, but what interests me most is the mindset of Woods - what really drives him. This book does an excellent job of getting inside his head, with sources from the Woods camp giving amazing insight. Basically he was an introverted, socially awkward kid who went on to become the greatest golfer of all time. One fellow player says that the more successful Woods became, the meaner he got. Though the writers are convinced that he has learned from his mistakes, and he seems to be a much more cheerful presence on tour these days. The book was published before his win at the 2019 Masters, when many respected journalists had written him off as finished. Taking into account his litany of serious injuries, it has been recognised as one of sport's greatest comebacks. Whatever you think about Tiger Woods as a golfer or as a person, he has had an unbelievable career, and this biography is a fitting tribute to it.
So I was intrigued to learn more about Tiger Woods, the greatest player in the history of golf. It's easy to forget how incredible Woods was at his peak. To burst onto the scene as he did as a twenty-one-year old, winning the Masters by 12 shots, was absolutely unheard of. Over the next decade, he went on to set records that may never be beaten. He changed the face of the sport, single-handedly increasing its popularity across the globe and making a lot of his peers and backers very wealthy indeed.
But all that success came at a cost. Has there even been a sportsperson who has had such a fall from grace? With his multiple infidelities splashed across the tabloids, Woods was humiliated. He lost his family, sponsors deserted him and he went on to suffer several injuries that could have ended his career.
This book does not shy away from his transgressions, and goes into shocking detail about how low he sank. It also gives an intriguing insight into his relationship with his father. There is no doubt that Earl Woods moulded his son into an unstoppable winning machine. But it's also easy to see where Tiger picked up his womanising habits, seeing his old man cheat on his mother Kultida every chance he got.
His exploits on the course are compelling in their own right, but what interests me most is the mindset of Woods - what really drives him. This book does an excellent job of getting inside his head, with sources from the Woods camp giving amazing insight. Basically he was an introverted, socially awkward kid who went on to become the greatest golfer of all time. One fellow player says that the more successful Woods became, the meaner he got. Though the writers are convinced that he has learned from his mistakes, and he seems to be a much more cheerful presence on tour these days. The book was published before his win at the 2019 Masters, when many respected journalists had written him off as finished. Taking into account his litany of serious injuries, it has been recognised as one of sport's greatest comebacks. Whatever you think about Tiger Woods as a golfer or as a person, he has had an unbelievable career, and this biography is a fitting tribute to it.
June 23, 2019
Pretty readable. Tiger’s dominance as an athlete is fascinating— hard to overstate how much better he was at golf than anyone ever before or since. Yet his life is uneviable. He seems dead inside. He’s an asshole, but also a fascinating, tragic figure.
I almost docked this book one star due to its lack of pictures (egregious!! in a bio like this photo section is mandatory) Also, there weren’t as many salacious details about his myriad self-destructive affairs as I would have liked. But given my utter lack of interest in golf, this was surprisingly entertaining.
I almost docked this book one star due to its lack of pictures (egregious!! in a bio like this photo section is mandatory) Also, there weren’t as many salacious details about his myriad self-destructive affairs as I would have liked. But given my utter lack of interest in golf, this was surprisingly entertaining.
May 13, 2018
I'll start off by saying that I've never liked Tiger Woods, not even in his prime before his dalliances with all the waitresses, porn stars and college students. While I admired his steely, killer instincts on the course and the inevitability that he would slay his competitors, I always thought he was cold, cocky and a total enabled brat. He was a resident in Orlando for many years, so perhaps we had a little more insight into the guy. This book changed none of these perceptions, but wow, did it highlight the epic tragedy of his rise and fall. You really don't even have to be a fan of golf to enjoy this well-researched and well-written account of one of the most famous athletes of all times.
I can't even begin to relate the hundreds of jaw-dropping stories shared in this unauthorized biography. The kind that you repeat to whoever will listen. From the "tough love" abuse, money grubbing, helicopter parenting and philandering of his father, Tiger's drive to be the best and the lengths he went to make that happen, the lightning fast rise to fame, the endorsements, the revolving door of confidantes and coaches that Tiger used and disposed of, the sexual escapades that were absolutely shocking, and his physical deterioration. While the authors were never allowed to go near Tiger or his current inner sanctum, they interviewed hundreds of others, read all the books about him, watched footage and creatively collected the information in other ways. I commend them for the effort.
In skimming through the reviews, some are angry at the fact that Tiger's side of things is not reflected here, but I truly believe that his words would be irrelevant. He has had a lifetime pattern of pointing his finger to blame others, making excuses and refusing to admit truths. I wouldn't believe a word he said, even if he did speak up. He was raised to believe he was The Chosen One, so his narcissism is a mechanism in which he protects himself from honest introspection. This book is not gossipy or vengeful. I found it very balanced and the authors often gave Tiger the benefit of the doubt when there was any available to give. With all that said, most readers will find some of his actions shocking and probably won't come away with much love for the guy. Chosen One or not, the guy is a total ass.
The narrator, Roger Casey, did an amazing job with this project. I've never heard him before, but he was extremely easy to listen to and communicated the right balance of passion and emotion.
I can't even begin to relate the hundreds of jaw-dropping stories shared in this unauthorized biography. The kind that you repeat to whoever will listen. From the "tough love" abuse, money grubbing, helicopter parenting and philandering of his father, Tiger's drive to be the best and the lengths he went to make that happen, the lightning fast rise to fame, the endorsements, the revolving door of confidantes and coaches that Tiger used and disposed of, the sexual escapades that were absolutely shocking, and his physical deterioration. While the authors were never allowed to go near Tiger or his current inner sanctum, they interviewed hundreds of others, read all the books about him, watched footage and creatively collected the information in other ways. I commend them for the effort.
In skimming through the reviews, some are angry at the fact that Tiger's side of things is not reflected here, but I truly believe that his words would be irrelevant. He has had a lifetime pattern of pointing his finger to blame others, making excuses and refusing to admit truths. I wouldn't believe a word he said, even if he did speak up. He was raised to believe he was The Chosen One, so his narcissism is a mechanism in which he protects himself from honest introspection. This book is not gossipy or vengeful. I found it very balanced and the authors often gave Tiger the benefit of the doubt when there was any available to give. With all that said, most readers will find some of his actions shocking and probably won't come away with much love for the guy. Chosen One or not, the guy is a total ass.
The narrator, Roger Casey, did an amazing job with this project. I've never heard him before, but he was extremely easy to listen to and communicated the right balance of passion and emotion.
April 1, 2018
"Tiger Woods" is like a cheeseburger cooked by a three-star Michelin chef. The cheeseburger may be meticulously prepared from the finest ingredients with flawless execution. But ultimately it is a cheeseburger. In the same way, "Tiger Woods" may be thoroughly researched, cogently presented, and well-written, but ultimately it is a gossipy celeb bio. No knocks against celeb bios (or cheeseburgers), but let's not pretend this is some compelling examination of Tiger Woods' psyche. As this book makes clear, Tiger Woods is an empty shell of a human with few redeeming qualities outside of his ability to play golf.
As the authors point out at the beginning of the book, Tiger is reclusive and secretive, a trait he has cultivated with his inner circle. Even if Tiger had participated in this book, I suspect that it would probably not be any more revealing because as the authors point out, he is not above fabrication and mythologizing in service of his image. In the final analysis, Tiger Woods is not all that complicated. He derived his best and worst traits from his father (Earl) and his mother (Kultida). In their single-minded devotion to making him the world's greatest golfer, his parents instilled Tiger with a solipsistic view of the world where everyone's existence was measured in terms of what they could do for him. The monomaniacal focus needed to be the best stripped him of redeeming qualities such as empathy, gratitude, and basic interpersonal skills.
When Tiger finally has his day of reckoning in 2009 and his carefully cultivated media persona is permanently and irrevocably shattered, it feels less tragic and more well-deserved.
As the authors point out at the beginning of the book, Tiger is reclusive and secretive, a trait he has cultivated with his inner circle. Even if Tiger had participated in this book, I suspect that it would probably not be any more revealing because as the authors point out, he is not above fabrication and mythologizing in service of his image. In the final analysis, Tiger Woods is not all that complicated. He derived his best and worst traits from his father (Earl) and his mother (Kultida). In their single-minded devotion to making him the world's greatest golfer, his parents instilled Tiger with a solipsistic view of the world where everyone's existence was measured in terms of what they could do for him. The monomaniacal focus needed to be the best stripped him of redeeming qualities such as empathy, gratitude, and basic interpersonal skills.
When Tiger finally has his day of reckoning in 2009 and his carefully cultivated media persona is permanently and irrevocably shattered, it feels less tragic and more well-deserved.
April 2, 2024
4 stars leaning 4.5/5.
This was as good of a sports bio as any I have read. I still believe Open and Roland Lazenbys books on MJ and Kobe are a bit better but this is definitely on the pyramid.
This book is a hard read, especially as a parent. So much of Tiger's greatness started so so early. It's hard thinking he was already golfing and being groomed for greatness when he was just a bit older than my almost 2 year old daughter. I cant imagine putting her through the regiment his parents did.
The common thread it seems between all great athletes is the mental energy of truly being the best there is and believing that without a doubt. His commitment to practicing and being the best and greatest and really believing that is amazing. It was crazy to read about how many things he won throughout his life.
The book was filled with random facts about Tiger that I really enjoyed learning about:
- He reinvented his swing 5 times over the course of his career?
- Him, MJ, and Ken Griffey Jr. were the 3 Nike "guys" - Nike had them all at the same time!
- Cool to see him "reinvent" himself and want to be with his kids more now
This was as good of a sports bio as any I have read. I still believe Open and Roland Lazenbys books on MJ and Kobe are a bit better but this is definitely on the pyramid.
This book is a hard read, especially as a parent. So much of Tiger's greatness started so so early. It's hard thinking he was already golfing and being groomed for greatness when he was just a bit older than my almost 2 year old daughter. I cant imagine putting her through the regiment his parents did.
The common thread it seems between all great athletes is the mental energy of truly being the best there is and believing that without a doubt. His commitment to practicing and being the best and greatest and really believing that is amazing. It was crazy to read about how many things he won throughout his life.
The book was filled with random facts about Tiger that I really enjoyed learning about:
- He reinvented his swing 5 times over the course of his career?
- Him, MJ, and Ken Griffey Jr. were the 3 Nike "guys" - Nike had them all at the same time!
- Cool to see him "reinvent" himself and want to be with his kids more now
April 11, 2018
What is it about human nature that draws us to an Icharus story? Yet in America we love to rehabilitate our broken celebs. This exhaustively researched book provides a 360 degree look at the making, breaking and painstaking return of arguably the most famous athlete of our time. We get an intimate look at Tiger’s lonely childhood as a golf prodigy, with two driven parents who raised him to mentally function as a “cold-blooded assassin” on the course, but at what cost? Huge, it turns out. The father/son dynamics, Tiger’s single-minded focus, marriage, infidelity, sex-addiction and then health issues that lead to pain pills, reads like a Shakespearian tragedy. In the end, the man who became such a private enigma had to learn to love and be human. I know nothing about golf, but it was the story in this book that kept me turning pages as if it were a novel. The details and insights are a testament to the authors diligence and a portrait emerges that will captivate anyone, sports fan or not.
April 4, 2018
Is accomplishment at its highest level, worldwide acclaim, or unfathomable wealth worth the cost? After reading the book, my overarching sentiment was that I would never want to trade places with Tiger Woods. The pressure--from his parents, the world, and himself--that formed him into what he became staggers the imagination.
This deeply researched, very well-written, and engaging work lays bare the incomprehensible cost that pursuing and maintaining iconic heights exacts.
My hope is that Tiger's renaissance allows the sensitivity evident in his youth, which the writers reveal, reemerges as he traverses middle age and beyond.
This deeply researched, very well-written, and engaging work lays bare the incomprehensible cost that pursuing and maintaining iconic heights exacts.
My hope is that Tiger's renaissance allows the sensitivity evident in his youth, which the writers reveal, reemerges as he traverses middle age and beyond.
May 16, 2021
This book shows the Tiger Woods I don't think any of us (or maybe just me) know. He was groomed at an early age by his parents to reach his full potential, he was a natural talent in golf, he went pro and became famous literally overnight (before age 21), then it all came crumbling down. Some unique peculiarities I learned about Tiger was his social awkwardness and preference to play video games (even on tour), his fixation on the US Navy SEALS, and then his womanizing and 14+ mistresses. It was a great story and I couldn't put the book down!
December 13, 2023
Fascinating portrait of a pretty terrible human being, albeit one who never had a chance to fully develop.
It was surprising to me that the book ended so abruptly. I thought there would be more to come on his life and career. That is more an indication of my ignorance about golf than a critique of the book, which was published in 2018. I am not sure I would read a sequel, however, having spent enough time with Tiger already
It was surprising to me that the book ended so abruptly. I thought there would be more to come on his life and career. That is more an indication of my ignorance about golf than a critique of the book, which was published in 2018. I am not sure I would read a sequel, however, having spent enough time with Tiger already
February 9, 2024
Continuing my theme of books with red covers about sports legends. Interesting but not 5 stars for me because it dragged on towards the end - perhaps that’s because I watched the HBO show based on this book which repeats most of the content. Also would have been better if they got some of Tiger’s perspective (which I realize they tried to do without success) versus only being outside looking in
July 9, 2025
Tiger was not very complex. He loved competing and having sex with women outside of his marriage - two things he learned from his loser dad. Benedict keeps it entertaining enough, but the whole book is just Tiger destroying relationships and hating the media and others.
October 10, 2025
Tiger has an inspirational, yet almost terrifying, amount of resolve that makes it hard not to admire him despite being one of the most infamous philanders and assholes of his generation.
May 25, 2020
Amazeballs. I lost an entire weekend to a man and a sport that I had zero prior knowledge of, or interest in.
Tiger Woods presents a deeply flawed portrait of an athlete and his singular, maniacal pursuit for golf glory. It is about a man who reached both the zenith and nadir of fame and success in a span of three decades. Jeff's biography is exhaustingly well researched to the point of discomfort. It really feels like he took a living person, stripped him bare before us while putting all of his darkest desires and smallest transgressions on display. For a society that loves to celebrate and revere athletes with feel-good success stories, Jeff does a brilliant job of describing the entry price one must pay to enter the Pantheon of sporting greatness (spoiler: it's pretty Faustian). In doing so, I think Jeff is challenging the usefulness of characterizing athletes as 'heroes' and role models.
Tiger is the product of unrelenting tiger parenting (yes I really wanted to use this pun), freakish athletic genes, and an inhuman ability to endure both physical pain and the weight of expectation heaped onto him by the world. Tiger grew up in the spotlight and was preordained as the second coming of Golf Jesus before he could even talk. No other prodigy has ever been subject to this type of pressure. And he delivered, and delivered, and continues to defy expectations even today. This aspect of Tiger Woods really differentiates him as an individual and makes the book worthwhile.
I love biographies because I am constantly seeking answers to the question of whether success is predicated on nature or nurture. Tiger Woods leaves no doubt in my mind that it absolutely demands both, and a bit of your humanity for good measure.
Tiger Woods presents a deeply flawed portrait of an athlete and his singular, maniacal pursuit for golf glory. It is about a man who reached both the zenith and nadir of fame and success in a span of three decades. Jeff's biography is exhaustingly well researched to the point of discomfort. It really feels like he took a living person, stripped him bare before us while putting all of his darkest desires and smallest transgressions on display. For a society that loves to celebrate and revere athletes with feel-good success stories, Jeff does a brilliant job of describing the entry price one must pay to enter the Pantheon of sporting greatness (spoiler: it's pretty Faustian). In doing so, I think Jeff is challenging the usefulness of characterizing athletes as 'heroes' and role models.
Tiger is the product of unrelenting tiger parenting (yes I really wanted to use this pun), freakish athletic genes, and an inhuman ability to endure both physical pain and the weight of expectation heaped onto him by the world. Tiger grew up in the spotlight and was preordained as the second coming of Golf Jesus before he could even talk. No other prodigy has ever been subject to this type of pressure. And he delivered, and delivered, and continues to defy expectations even today. This aspect of Tiger Woods really differentiates him as an individual and makes the book worthwhile.
I love biographies because I am constantly seeking answers to the question of whether success is predicated on nature or nurture. Tiger Woods leaves no doubt in my mind that it absolutely demands both, and a bit of your humanity for good measure.
May 12, 2018
There's a quote on the back of the book that claims this is like "If King Lear had been about golf!" That may be a touch hyperbolic, but there's something undeniably Shakespearean about Tiger Woods that we're left to grapple with at the end of this meticulously researched biography. The twisted family dynamic and the demanding father certainly feel familiar, but it almost feels like Hamlet to me: the tortured boy king, haunted by his dead father, and lashing out irrationally? Check, check, check. All pretension aside, Woods comes vividly to life here, and the book remains scrupulously fair to him at all times. I'm not a huge golf fan, but the authors do a great job of demonstrating what made Tiger so unique: not just his raw power or desire to compete, but his creativity and his relentless approach to improvement. I think all readers will find something of value here, whether it's about celebrity or race or addiction or parenting. Not to be missed.
April 12, 2022
Tiger Woods makes an absolutely fascinating character study. His life has contained so much tragedy, beginning with a father who decided when Tiger was still in utero that his son would become the greatest golfer of all-time and as the years passed didn’t seem to care about much else. Tiger grew up to be the world’s greatest golfer and also an emotionally-stunted narcissist. Benedict and Keteyian deftly describe his journey, including his well-known fall from grace, and throughout provide a plausible account of his evolving psyche. By book’s end, we feel like we to some extent know the real Tiger, an astounding achievement of the authors given that Tiger himself has always been so guarded and refused to be interviewed for the book. There's sadness in this pages but also some hope as the book comes to an end. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
June 30, 2024
Tiger Woods is my favorite athlete of all time, and one of the main reasons I became such an avid golfer as a child. And this was an incredible biography of the famously guarded golfer. Anyone that was paying attention knew that Earl was an all time terrible father and that’s a huge reason Tiger is the way he is, but it’s somehow even so much worse reading about it.
It was so fun reading about Tiger from his childhood through the 2018 Tour Championship, and I can only imagine how fun it would’ve been to read about his comeback at the 2019 Masters as well. But his childhood and amateur career really helped understand what makes Tiger tick and how he became the greatest golfer, and possibly athlete, who ever lived.
Also, I probably would’ve finished this more quickly if I didn’t stop to watch YouTube highlights of my favorite tournaments and moments as they popped up in the book.
It was so fun reading about Tiger from his childhood through the 2018 Tour Championship, and I can only imagine how fun it would’ve been to read about his comeback at the 2019 Masters as well. But his childhood and amateur career really helped understand what makes Tiger tick and how he became the greatest golfer, and possibly athlete, who ever lived.
Also, I probably would’ve finished this more quickly if I didn’t stop to watch YouTube highlights of my favorite tournaments and moments as they popped up in the book.
July 21, 2019
I'm not a golf fan or a Tiger Woods fan in any way and I rarely read biographies. This audio book basically fell into my lap and I had nothing else to listen to so I decided to give it a try and the next thing I knew I was listening every chance I got. I'm not even sure why. There is a lot of golf talk but it was really fascinating to hear what it takes to be the best golfer (athlete?) of all time. And at what cost. If he wasn't such a jerk (I've been using a different word when discussing this book but I'll keep it clean here) could he have been the golfer he was? I kept wondering why some of these people remained his friend when he didn't seem to know how to be a friend at all? I could barely contain myself when he refused to acknowledge the woman whose house he repeatedly stayed in for an annual tournament. She has her hand out to introduce herself and he completely snubs her...isn't that when you say get the hell out of my house? I'm mad just thinking about it again now. I y felt the thrill of his wins and fury at his narcissistic attitude and couldn't get enough of either.
March 8, 2023
I have never given two shits about golf. But this book kept me throughly entertained. Maybe it’s because Tiger is such a weird character? Regardless, a quality biography that felt relatively unbiased and balanced.
April 6, 2018
My goodness! This sure was a thorough and detailed biography! I got a lot more than expected but truth be told I couldn't put it down. I thought it penetrated the thick crust of Tiger's defensive personality but you can't really blame him too much as everyone really wanted a piece of him. Sometimes I felt sorry for him and other times just startled by his rude self centered attitude. There is no denying his athletic abilities not only on the green but also his deep sea diving and desire to train like a Navy Seal. He was taught almost military survival by his father and his mother had a "go for the throat" mentality regarding his golfing ethics but this did not help him with the outside world and how to relate to others. Listen, he loved his parents so who am I to say they may have hindered him as far as being an open and caring person. Hopefully Tiger is on his way to a comeback. This book shows you how stardom can open up the world for you but also cause it to be tilted out of balance. I am rooting for Tiger. Doesn't everyone deserve a second chance? Let's just see what happens. I'm watching the Masters as we speak.
May 16, 2018
While I cannot fault the research that has gone into this book it just seemed to concentrate on the salacious potential gossip. I wanted to know more about the man himself, not just hearsay or opinions. The words were devastating at times and I couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. This book goes some ways to showing how parenting can affect someone from young and still have devastating consequences when they are adults and while there are little flickers of redemption, ultimately, we still know that the man is nowhere near what he once was. However, the potential is still there.
I love golf, I work within the sport itself and I understand the ins and outs. I found this side of the book fascinating but the ultimate moral of this story lies with Tiger's dad. While he is no longer around to defend his actions I bet he would have a lot to say about this if he walked this earth.
I love golf, I work within the sport itself and I understand the ins and outs. I found this side of the book fascinating but the ultimate moral of this story lies with Tiger's dad. While he is no longer around to defend his actions I bet he would have a lot to say about this if he walked this earth.
March 31, 2018
What a story. Thoroughly researched. Crisply told. A tale of a man with otherworldly talents beset with demons that dramatically altered his life's arc. The book leaves you with rays of sunshine peaking through the clouds, a glimmer of hope that an immensely talented person may have finally learned to live, finally defining himself by who he is as a father and a person, not solely as a legendary golfer. There is beauty in triumph emerging from tragedy. I now want to see Tiger succeed not only in golf but in life.
January 22, 2021
More like 3.5. A really well written novel about the life of Tiger Woods.
I have to take the novel with a grain of salt, because even know there was a tremendous amount of research and interviews with those that say to know Tiger the best, there was no interviews or talks with Tiger himself. And as the novel showed, there may be a handful of people who know the real Tiger.
I was shocked reading about the childhood of Tiger and how committed his parents were to raise the greatest golfer in the world. I had no idea how much time he had spent practicing, basically from the time he could walk (and hit a golf ball). It was very interesting seeing what aspects his parents focused on and what was not focused on.
It's also clear how horrible of a person Tiger is (was??). He was brought up to only think about himself and that's how he lived his life, until it cost him everything. It was nice to see that he may of seemed to change his ways and focus on his children.
I wish the book was written a few years later, so that it could of captured Tiger's 2019 Masters win. I'll never forget watching and seeing the sea of people coming down the fairway behind him on the 18th hole.
I have to take the novel with a grain of salt, because even know there was a tremendous amount of research and interviews with those that say to know Tiger the best, there was no interviews or talks with Tiger himself. And as the novel showed, there may be a handful of people who know the real Tiger.
I was shocked reading about the childhood of Tiger and how committed his parents were to raise the greatest golfer in the world. I had no idea how much time he had spent practicing, basically from the time he could walk (and hit a golf ball). It was very interesting seeing what aspects his parents focused on and what was not focused on.
It's also clear how horrible of a person Tiger is (was??). He was brought up to only think about himself and that's how he lived his life, until it cost him everything. It was nice to see that he may of seemed to change his ways and focus on his children.
I wish the book was written a few years later, so that it could of captured Tiger's 2019 Masters win. I'll never forget watching and seeing the sea of people coming down the fairway behind him on the 18th hole.
July 16, 2023
Wow Tiger Woods is such an asshole. It is extraordinary that the sordid details of his personal life and the surly nature of his personality were not widely known for so long. This was a riveting book and an incredible recommendation from my goodreads rival TH. The authors try way too hard in the final chapter to rehabilitate Tiger. This book was published in 2018 and I wonder if/how they would have ended the book differently if it had included the events since (including the 2021 car crash, 2019 masters win, etc.)
April 25, 2018
This is a book designed to make you repeatedly cringe at the train wreck of Tiger Woods, while still managing to make you marvel at his athleticism and feel, if not empathy, at least a bit of understanding as to how someone could screw up so completely. The last chapter suggests that he is on a redeeming road; hope that is true. If you were a fan, it’s worth the read.
December 27, 2023
His whole life is about extremes. Extreme childhood shaped by crazy parents. Extreme competitor, mentally tougher than any of his peers. Extreme training regimen and style of play that ultimately destroyed his body and shortened his career (crazy that he didn’t meet Nicklaus’ mark of 18 after it seemed inevitable). Extreme sex addiction where he has dozens of women all around the world, all under wraps from the media. Extreme painkiller addiction that nearly killed him. It seems like he is doing better now and maturing, hopefully he can keep it up.
Crazy research went into this book. Too bad it was written before his 2019 masters win.
Written entirely without any support or cooperation from Tiger. Would be fascinating to hear his side of the story on a lot of this but we probably never will.
Had to write down this quote from his mom: “in sport, you have to go for the throat. Because if all friendly, they come back and beat your ass. So you kill them. Take their heart.”
Crazy research went into this book. Too bad it was written before his 2019 masters win.
Written entirely without any support or cooperation from Tiger. Would be fascinating to hear his side of the story on a lot of this but we probably never will.
Had to write down this quote from his mom: “in sport, you have to go for the throat. Because if all friendly, they come back and beat your ass. So you kill them. Take their heart.”
November 12, 2019
Maybe 3.5 stars. Holy cow, this book was eye-opening. Tiger Woods is (hopefully was???) an incredibly selfish jerk. Admittedly, part of that is totally not his fault. His dad was an incredibly selfish jerk too, so that's not a great example, and both of his parents raised him from birth to be entitled, skeptical of the world, and to think he was a golf God. He also practiced golf too much to get any decent social interaction as a child. Maybe all elite athletes must be inherently selfish in order to focus 110% of their life's energy on their craft?
But wow. I mean, we all knew Tiger Woods had that big blow-up with Elin, came out as a sex addict, and got divorced. But I didn't know how much of a giant jerk he was for pretty much his whole life. Not just for a couple years of his marriage. He never said thank you, was never kind or appreciative, he never tipped or was gracious with fans, cheapskate, he was not a team player or a good sportsman with his competitors, awful to the media, I'm not sure why he had ANY friends at all since he was a "taker" in all relationships... I could go on.
This book definitely disillusioned me about Tiger. The sex addiction incident was not a blip in an otherwise great life.
I'm trying to take it with a grain of salt because obviously it was not written by Tiger himself. But the authors seem credible and take care to explain at length all of their reliable sources.
But wow. I mean, we all knew Tiger Woods had that big blow-up with Elin, came out as a sex addict, and got divorced. But I didn't know how much of a giant jerk he was for pretty much his whole life. Not just for a couple years of his marriage. He never said thank you, was never kind or appreciative, he never tipped or was gracious with fans, cheapskate, he was not a team player or a good sportsman with his competitors, awful to the media, I'm not sure why he had ANY friends at all since he was a "taker" in all relationships... I could go on.
This book definitely disillusioned me about Tiger. The sex addiction incident was not a blip in an otherwise great life.
I'm trying to take it with a grain of salt because obviously it was not written by Tiger himself. But the authors seem credible and take care to explain at length all of their reliable sources.
May 30, 2024
Listened to this on audiobook through spotify. I’ve not watched a ton of golf in my life but growing up, I always enjoyed seeing Tiger Woods play. He grew to be my favorite golfer to cheer for and was a household name. I knew that he was frequently talked about on TV for his personal life outside of golf but I didn’t realize just how intense the story was. The authors of this book leave no stone unturned and cover seemingly every detail of Tiger’s storied career. This book certainly isn’t for every reader/listener and you learn about everything, whether you want to or not. it helps to approach a book like this one with a mindset that we are all human and we are all broken and imperfect. regardless of the intensity of the details, this book is very well done.
January 19, 2022
Fascinating insight into the mind of one of the greatest athletes ever, tunnel vision at its highest form. I thought I knew a lot about Tiger Woods before starting this as I had always kept up to date with news stories around his life and all his golfing accomplishments but there was so much going on behind the scenes that only a select few even knew about. The book goes into incredible detail which at times can feel a bit uneasy, the biographic nature of the book left me to wonder a couple times "how do you know this?" but I couldn't recommend this book enough to anyone, not just those interested in golf.
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