The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods

Neither slam nor sellout, Hank Haney's book is simply riveting. It's clear that during Tiger Woods' and Haney's time together as student and pupil (six+ years), the instructor was paying _very_ close attention and taking extensive note of...everything. As a result, we get not only golf insights (which you would expect) but maybe the closest thing we're going to get to a peek inside the innermost circle of the world of Tiger Woods.It's been two-and-a-half years since Woods hit that fire hydrant (with Elin either attempting to attack him or rescue him depending on which version you believe - put me down for 'a'). I've been waiting for the explosive book spilling all the details. That work, to my knowledge, has not come. [By contrast, I've got John Solomon's juicy DSK work ( DSK: The Scandal That Brought Down Dominique Strauss-Kahn ) on order - due out 13 months post-fall.] Why no account? Maybe such a work eventually comes out, but the Woods depicted by Haney is so walled-off, so guarded, so unrevealing, so impenetrably unreadable, that it's just as likely that no one has the story. So, it's an enthralling surprise for this reader that the fullest look at this complex man comes not from a crack, investigative journalist, but from his erstwhile coach.And, as good as the book is, it's even better when read by the author. Haney narrates his own work. The unabridged audio CD is eight-and-a-half hours - time that goes by very easily with Haney's engaging tone, his Chicagoland roots still evident in his voice despite his decades in Dallas. It's not for nothing that Haney has ascended to the top of his profession and has succeeded in translating that that mastery to television: his attention to detail (a must for a golf instructor) is evident throughout this work; he's an engaging, likable guy; and he's able to convey his principles in a compelling, never dry manner.Haney's work is definitely elevated through his partnership with Jaime Diaz. Long one of golf's finest writers, Diaz helped shape the story. As a result, the book is far more than a breakdown of Woods' golf game or insight into Haney's method. Instead, it stands as a parallel history leading up to and after the events of Thanksgiving, 2009. Haney and Diaz paint a picture of an increasingly angry, distracted Woods pre-accident, and an adrift, unfocused, scattered Woods afterwards. You knew his life had to be torn asunder after such a great fall. If anything, the post-scandal Woods depicted on these pages suffers through lower lows than imagined from the outside looking in. Haney holds out hope that the post-therapy Woods would open up, embrace his fans and engage in thoughtful, open discussions both one-on-one and in his media sessions (his ability to say nothing in his post-round sessions is legendary). Despite glimpses at that type of change, his petulant, club-kicking display at the 2012 Masters shows he has some road to travel.I am and have always been a 'Tiger Guy.' Despite all the hits Tiger will take from this book (notably: obsession with military training, diminished work rate on his short game, performance anxiety with his driver), I feel that - on the whole - 'The Big Miss' is a positive look at this most complex of individuals. I don't think Hank Haney has attempted to diminish him in any way. For those that do criticize the book, I do hope that you've at least read it before you start taking shots.Thanks, Hank, for this fascinating work. The thought and effort you put into 'The Big Miss' is evidently clear.

To say this book was eye opening is to make a big understatement. I have followed Tiger's career from his junior days, and have marveled along with the rest of the world at his accomplishments and at the amazing style in which he accomplishes them. But, as a former collegiate player, and once upon a time low handicapper, there were many things about Tiger's game that greatly puzzled me, as I thought I could see rather obvious flaws in his game that even lesser lights, let alone the Nicklauses , Hogans and Palmers didn't have. The most obvious one, the one that everyone now knows about, is the incredible amount of head movement in his driver swings that has robbed him of any chance for superior performance off the tee. Well, this book explains at least some of the reasons why Tiger has allowed this and other flaws into his game over time. Even more stunning to me was his fixation with becoming a Navy Seal, and how his Seal training has likely been the source of his severe physical problems. Think about it: Tiger is far from the only long hitter to play the game. Weiskopf, Nicklaus, Norman, Bubba, J.B., Dustin Johnson, etc etc. I cannot think of one other long hitter in golf history who has had such severe injuries at such a young age as Tiger, so I am now of the opinion it is more likely his Seal training that has devastated his body, not his powerful golf swing, as we have been led to believe. There are many, many inside facts that Haney has access to due to his long, intimate association w/ Tiger, and even though the book bogs down at times with self-serving prose and some gratuitous, voyeuristic details of Tiger's life, I have a much fuller insight into why Tiger does what he does. Haney spent countless hundreds of hours w/ Tiger, not only coaching him, but simply living at his house, hanging with him and his family. As such, he has a vast experience with Tiger, and has insights that very few can have. Not all will be interested in some of the 'tech talk' about the golf swing, but more accomplished players will appreciate this part of the book. The sad thing is, perhaps, that had Tiger stayed the course, both maritally and in focusing on his golf, he probably would have surpassed Nicklaus long ago for most majors. His talent (and drive for many years) is so prodigious that it is hard to see anyone else among current stars (other than Rory, possibly) coming close to his career accomplishments, but I still feel that in many ways Tiger's life has elements of tragedy (broken marriage, broken body, continued struggles w/ sex addiction.) I wouldn't say this book is must reading even for Wood's biggest fans, but if you want at least part of the picture of why Tiger's life has taken the turns it has, this book is probably the best source that there is.

Being a great writer is mostly about access and Hank had unique access to Woods. If you are a student of the swing and followed Tiger Woods in his prime you have to read this book. My view of Woods was so shaped by the marketing machine around him but clearly he is as human as you and me. He has fears on the course, first tee jitters, struggles to take his range game to the course and much more. It makes his 14 majors even more of an achievement. He also seemed to succumb to the fate of many of those with too much power. It appeared to corrupt him, in his personal life and in his professional life. It appears that he did not treat his employees with respect and seemed to think he didn’t need to. Excellent revelations by Hank but equally, there are two sides to every story. Would love to hear Tigers unguarded thoughts on the book. I am sure if he wrote a tell all book we would learn some things we never knew about those around him. Tough living under such pressure. An icon.

Whether one likes Tiger Woods or not as a person, he is a sporting phenomenon. Few know him as his coach does having been with him through some of his most successful years. Knowing the split was acrimonious and bizarre in some ways, the book nevertheless presents a picture of Woods not many know and, while it may not endear anyone to him, it will show the hard (and extreme?) work involved in becoming the sporting legend he is.

I found this study of Tiger Woods deeply fascinating. The insights into his relationships, or lack of them, with the people around him were especially interesting. Most of the book is fairly balanced so that Tiger's good points are as evident as his eccentricities and flaws. However, the final chapter seems a little more personally condemnatory which is a shame. For all that, it is a pioneering book insofar as it reveals more of Tiger than has been available before. Well worth a read even for the non-golfer although there are a couple of brief passages dealing with golf techniques which might be better skipped over.

Not sure what I expected from this book but I'm shocked at the level of unprofessionalism shown by Hank Haney during his time as a coach with Tiger Woods and as an author of this book.Hank lacks self confidence and dignity. I found it very difficult to enjoy this book as Hank took every opportunity he could to slag Tiger off and make himself look like the innocent good guy. I think Hank overdid the "I'm the good guy" routine and for this reason I'm disappointed with the egotistic approach he took to writing this book.

A few nuggets but mostly conjectural, with lots of pseudo-psychology and not very insightful as it was not hard to infer that Tiger had manic discipline, focus and determination to be as good as he was and may become again. The Tiger Woods story has been re-told in many forums and it is hard to really get.Very likely some of the narratives- such as the waning motivation around 2006-2008- were constructed only when the Tiger scandals and fall from grace had crystallized.