The Big Miss

My Years Coaching Tiger Woods

By: Hank Haney

Narrated by: Hank Haney

The Big Miss is Hank Haney's candid and surprisingly insightful account of his tumultuous six-year journey with Tiger Woods, during which the supremely gifted golfer collected six major championships and rewrote golf history.

Hank was one of the very few people allowed behind the curtain. He was with Tiger 110 days a year, spoke to him over 200 days a year, and stayed at his home up to 30 days a year, observing him in nearly every circumstance: at tournaments; on the practice range; over meals, with his wife, Elin; and relaxing with friends.

The relationship between the two men began in March 2004, when Hank received a call from Tiger in which the golf champion asked him to be his coach. It was a call that would change both men's lives.

Tiger - only 28 at the time - was by then already an icon, judged by the sporting press as not only one of the best golfers ever, but possibly the best athlete ever. Already, he was among the world's highest paid celebrities. There was an air of mystery surrounding him, an aura of invincibility. Unique among athletes, Tiger seemed to be able to shrug off any level of pressure and find a way to win. But Tiger was always looking to improve, and he wanted Hank's help.

What Hank soon came to appreciate was that Tiger was one of the most complicated individuals he'd ever met, let alone coached. Although Hank had worked with hundreds of elite golfers and was not easily impressed, there were days watching Tiger on the range when Hank couldn't believe what he was witnessing. On those days, it was impossible to imagine another human playing golf so perfectly.

And yet Tiger is human - and Hank's expert eye was adept at spotting where Tiger's perfection ended and an opportunity for improvement existed. Always haunting Tiger was his fear of "the big miss" - the wildly inaccurate golf shot that can ruin an otherwise solid round - and it was because that type of blunder was sometimes part of Tiger's game that Hank carefully redesigned his swing mechanics.

Hank's most formidable coaching challenge, though, would be solving the riddle of Tiger's personality. Wary of the emotional distractions that might diminish his game and put him further from his goals, Tiger had developed a variety of tactics to keep people from getting too close, and not even Hank - or Tiger's family and friends, for that matter - was spared "the treatment".

Toward the end of Tiger's and Hank's time together, the champion's laser-like focus began to blur, and he became less willing to put in punishing hours practicing - a disappointment to Hank, who saw in Tiger's behavior signs that his pupil had developed a conflicted relationship with the game. Hints that Tiger hungered to reinvent himself were present in his bizarre infatuation with elite military training, and - in a development Hank didn't see coming - in the scandal that would make headlines in late 2009. It all added up to a big miss that Hank, try as he might, couldn't save Tiger from.

There's never been a book about Tiger Woods that is as intimate and revealing - or one so wise about what it takes to coach a superstar athlete.

©2012 Hank Haney (P)2012 Random House

Worth It!

What did you love best about The Big Miss?

I grew up watching Tiger during his prime, but fell out of love with golf during his scandal period. This book is perfect in detailing Tiger's life and the lessons he's had to learn throughout his life. Even if you're not an avid golf fan this story truly tells the story of what life as a famous sports icon is like and what it takes to compete at a high level.

What did you like best about this story?

How Hank doesn't leave anything out in his opinion. He didn't hold back in describing Tiger's personality and detailing the decisions that preludes many famous events of Tiger's career.

Which scene was your favorite?

One of the best parts is how Hank tells his story about his falling out with Tiger. How all the things he wished that could have been better in their friendship and partnership could have been improved upon.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book didn't really have one particular moment that "moved" me. I'd say does a great job showing the parts of Tiger the public never really has gotten to see, and explained his inner circles story relating to the scandal that still follows him around.

Any additional comments?

Other reviewers have commented a lot about the voice overs and dub type parts. It didn't really bother me all that much, and I was far too invested in hearing Hank's telling of his relationship with Tiger and the challenges Tiger has faced to care.

Not negative like I first thought it would be

What did you love best about The Big Miss?

I thought this book would be Haney complaining about being fired and therefore I stayed away from it for a long time. But it is not like that at all. It is obvious Haney has great respect for Tiger and wrote a great book about their time together. It truly is an enjoyable read.

Different narration would have given it 5 stars!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Narration and editing of voice.

What did you like best about this story?

Seems tto be a fair account of an intriguing story. We all can learn from Tiger's tumultuous life.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Mundane voice, the corrections in editing were very apparent and distracting. Professional narration could have made this book riveting, and a definite re-listen. Norbert Leo Butz would have been a great one.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Too much of this book was spent on golf statistics, mainly for the author to let the world know about his perception of the job he did with Tiger and his own career. The average listener/reader may quit in the middle.

If the truth hurts ?

I believe Hank Haney told an honest story about his time with Tiger Woods.
Tiger is and was an asshole in how he treats people.

Good listen

Very good listen. There are some weird choppy audio parts to the story but it's not too distracting. I am an avid golfer, but it gets a little too technical at times. However, it is a good listen and if you're a Tiger Woods fan you will be hooked.

Very interesting.

Great insight to the behind the scenes life of Tiger and Hank. Tiger was under tremendous pressie and scrutiny, Hank seemed to be handcuffed while being couch at same time.

This is just a good book!

This is just a good book. To me it was insightful on the coaches perspective of working with a great athlete and it's highs and low points..

Great insight into Tiger

Where does The Big Miss rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is a very good sports book. Not as good as Hogan or The Grand Slam, but much better than Jack Nicklaus' book.

What did you like best about this story?

It gave incredible insight into Tiger Woods and his thought process as a golfer. We also learned that his interest in the Navy Seals may have cost him a chance at some all-time records.

What about Hank Haney’s performance did you like?

He is not a pro reader, but since he is the author of the book, it was like he was telling us his story. I liked that.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The story of a champion golfer and flawed person.

Any additional comments?

Although I loved the insight into Tiger, it seemed that Haney was way too concerned with his own place in history. He took great pains to justify everything he did with Tiger and to defend his record with Tiger vs. Butch Harmon's record with Tiger.

Popsicle?

My take away from this book is Tiger didn't offer Hank a Popsicle. I'm not a Tiger fan but I get the impression that this was an insider hit piece /cash grab on Hanks part.

Honest

It seems like Hank needed to get something of his chest. I did enjoy the book.