“Tiger Woods” is a NY Times Best Seller for a Reason

As a child he was labeled a prodigy, as a teenager he was awkward and felt uncomfortable in social situations, as young adult he became and icon and now as a grown man he’s a living legend.

For so many golfers (much like myself) they got into the game because of what they saw Tiger Woods do on the golf course.

We would see him in commercials pitching products from razors and luxury cars to credit cards. We would see him on the cover of every magazine cover and so often he would be raising a trophy above his head early on Sunday evenings.  

No athlete in my opinion has had a greater effect on their sport than Tiger Woods.

But how did it all start? Did he get cut from his high school team like Michal Jordan?

Most of us know that wasn’t the cast for Tiger. We have seen the clip of him hitting shots on television at the age of 2.  

One would think that life was really easy for him and with this early fame his popularity among kids his age would have been through the roof. But that wasn’t the case.

It Was News to Me

When I received the “Tiger Woods” book for Christmas in 2018 I was excited to learn all about Tigers early life, teen years and professional career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I had heard many stories about him via word of mouth conversations or little segments on TV but I never expected to read some of the things I read in this book.

I never knew that in the late 80’s Tiger was entered into 33 junior tournaments and he won every one of them. I had heard about his relationship with his father and the non-traditional parenting methods but I didn’t expect to read things that made me feel sorry for him.

I’m a younger golf fan (low 30’s) so when Tiger was in his prime I was just a kid. I didn’t appreciate everything that was on and to be honest, I wasn’t that into golf.

By the time I fell in love with the sport to the point where I started to consume everything I could find on the game Tiger’s life had changed drastically from what it was in his 20’s and 30’s.

Time and time again while reading this book I would think allowed to myself “if I didn’t know he’s a real person, I would think this is  fiction.”

File photo taken in 2005 shows Tiger Woods receiving the 2005 Masters…

File photo taken in 2005 shows Tiger Woods receiving the 2005 Masters green jacket from 2004 champion Phil Mickelson. ==Kyodo Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

From his childhood practice routine to his professional coaches and from his first love to his well documented love affairs, this book was an absolute joy to experience. My only disappointment came when it ended.

My Final Thoughts

When I read the final line, I couldn’t help but smile. Tiger Woods is a living legend.

As golf fans and sports fans we are lucky enough to live in an era where we had the pleasure of watching the greatest athletes that have ever graced their respective sports. Micheal Jordan in basketball, Micheal Phelps in swimming, and Tom Brady for football. What every one of these athletes have in common besides the desire to be the best is that they have all been in amazement of what Tiger Woods has done.

This book was a joy to read and I feel like a better sports fan for having read it. If you love Tiger Woods this is a must read. If you hate Tiger Woods, this is a must read.

At the time of this review Tiger has just won his 5th green jacket and 15th major.  The only question this book leaves unanswered is what will be added in the next addition as the Tiger Woods story, and legend continues?

Under consideration to be sure. https://t.co/deHoxdLm8B

— Armen Keteyian (@ArmenKeteyian) April 16, 2019