An interesting look at the life of someone whose parents turned him into a golf robot. The most interesting aspects of the book where the parts about his childhood and how his parents groomed him to be a golf legend and the impact that has on one's personality and ability to act human.

However, this book relies a lot on other articles and books that have previously been written about Tiger Woods because he and so many people close to him refuse to be (or can't be because of nondisclosures) interviewed on the record about him. Because of that at times it feels like a book report and in certain sections heavily referenced articles I had previously read about Tiger. It also has a tendency to repeat things from earlier in the book. I did read this rather quickly, over just a few days, so maybe the repetition is helpful for slower reads because the book is long. I found it to be unnecessary though.

I really enjoyed Wheelmen: Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France, and the Greatest Sports Conspiracy Ever by Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O'Connell and was hoping this book would be similar to that. But I remember their book about Lance Armstrong being much more insightful about Lance Armstrong, his behavior, his doping program and his impact on the sport of cycling, where this book about Tiger is light on insight and more a regurgitation of facts. ( )

I really enjoyed the book – – even if it was a bit long. However, I don't like Tiger Woods. There were countless stories of how he mistreated family, friends, supporters, fans and other golf professionals. Woods had a horrible attitude – – much of which he inherited and received from his father, Earl. He was also a horrible husband and family man. Stories of his philandering have been documented and acknowledged by Woods himself. He is attempting a comeback in sorts. He is trying to redeem his reputation and his golf career. There are many people who are pulling for his comeback. Not me. Especially after reading this book. Tiger Woods is not a sympathetic figure at all.

I am not a golf fan but I did find this story of the rise and fall of a superstar athlete to be very compelling. This is more than just a sports book or biography. It's a lesson in hubris, pride and karma.

As an aside, I purchased this book and felt it was a good investment of my time and interest. ( )

Has there ever been a sports figure more focused on then Tiger Woods? Michael Jordan, might come close, or possibly even Magic Johnson. But I think Tiger certainly eclipses them. It's because the story about Tiger is an amazing story. Good or bad Tiger, most of us want to know the story.

In the realm of golf I rate the top five of all time as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. Tiger probably the tops due to his record and early achievement of that. Yet on the flip side has there ever been an athlete let alone a golfer who fell the furthest from the pinnacle?

Jeff Benedict in the latest book on the man lays it all bare. Not a flattering picture of Tiger Woods yet leaving the door open at the end for still a possible happy ending. What I liked most about this bio on Tiger is it got to he heart of the pressures, psychology, and motives that drove him, good and bad. This is not a shot by shot reenactment we often see in sports books and bios. Benedict delves much more on what was going on upstairs and behind the scenes, making for riveting reading.

There are many Tiger worshipers out there, there are many haters. I am not a hater but I did often root against him. Not because I am prejudiced as some would accusingly try to point out, but because of the arrogance and coldness I have perceived in him. I simply liked to see Tiger fail. And so often he did not do so but prevailed like none other. But I certainly always wanted to watch, like many of the millions of sports fans and much to the delight of professional golf and its sponsors.

An amazing story here, the success, the deception, the downfall, the attempted resurrection. It's all here in a spell binding page turner. At the very bottom one cannot feel sorry for the man who was utterly defeated in the sport and his life. And how sorry do we feel for a man will never want for anything materially? Yet this story goes on, it is not quite over, and for sure so many of us, we will be watching. ( )