Tiger Woods Book:

Editorial Review:
Great competitor, top shotmaker, the only player to win the U.S. Amateur three times, a smashing first year on the pro tour at age 20-Tiger Woods is a sports phenomenon. Now discover how he did it and what it cost him in a riveting story that captures the heart and soul of a magnificent American athlete.

-The poignant love story behind his parents' marriage and a soldier's promise to name his son "Tiger"
-A son's talent, a father's ambitions, and the tough mental games geared to either break him or make him a champion
-The truth about college and his decision to go pro
-A revealing close-up of Tiger under pressure, his most dramatic play-offs, and his worst rookie-year mistake
-The big money: $40 million Nike deal and the hot Titleist contract
-The race card-who played it and why-and how Tiger changed the game forever...
-His journey to the 1997 Masters and a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team

Tiger Woods: The Makings of a Champion Reviews:
From Crib to the Pros in 18 years
2008-03-19 - This lively little book, chronicles Aldrick (Tiger) Woods phenomenal rise, to the pinnacles of the professional golfing world. It is a love story between father and son, as tiger's father saw greatness in him from the moment he picked up a golf club at the tender age of 18 months. He then pushed, cajoled and showered him with love, mental-toughness and camradarie, until he emerged as a tough-minded pro, equipped with "all the essential goods" ready to become "America's Golfer of the 21st Century." This father-son duo is unique in the annals of American history.

Even as early as four, learnt golf pros saw something unique in the way Tiger was maturing -- in both body, soul and technique -- into the "ways of a professional golfer." By the time he was ready to graduate from high school, he had signed a contract with IMG, one of the world's largest public relations firms. He elected to go to Stanford U, and spent three years there before cashing all his chips in to turn pro.

Even though there had been many "child golf prodigies" before him, all of whom had fallen flat on their faces never to rise again, everyone knew that Tiger was "that special one" who would succeed. And succeed he did. Before turning 20, he had already won a string of amateur tournaments, and two pro majors. And, as the saying goes: the rest is history.

Just this pass Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament, Tiger won it in an electrifying way reserved only for "that Tiger thing;" a "save" on the 18th hole: by sinking a "must" 25-foot birdie. With it, Tiger passed yet another milestone of having won 64 "majors" in his brief career.

The book is one of those overnight "made on the computer books" and is not very good. But those interested in "just the facts," will enjoy this easy read.

Two stars.

One of the best.
2003-03-29 - When I first started reading this book I had a tough time putting it down. It takes us back to Tigers early golf days right up to the winning of his first Masters Tournament in record numbers. Tim Rosaforte really makes this book come alive. You will not be disappointed in this one.

A CHAMPION RISES
2002-07-18 - At age twenty-one, Eldrick "Tiger" Woods became the youngest individual to win the Masters Tournament. This young phenomena ushered in a new age for golf and sports fans all over wanted to know, who is this rising champion? Sports writer Tim Rosaforte provides that answer by penning one of the first biographies of Tiger.

Does a young man of twenty years of age deserve a 70,000 word biography is the question Rosaforte raises. His answer is a resounding yes as he presents before the phenomenal rise of golf's greatest champion of all time. He tracks the early career of Woods from his Junior Golf years all the way up to his 1997 victory at the Masters. Through his journalism you get a comprehensive overview of his career.

Rosaforte divides his book into three sections which entail a biographical sketch of Woods' parents and their impact on him. His second section is devoted to his wins in junior golf, high school and college. Finally we deal with Tiger coming out on his own by turning professional. As one of the first biographical books on Woods, the author does a decent job in giving us insight on this remarkable golfer.

I would caution readers to not look at this book as the "definitive" work about Woods. Rosaforte admits that he didn't have the help of the Woods family in compiling his work. In many instances the author's voice takes on a self-serving attitude as if his writing is responsible for taking Woods to greater heights. Although he shares with us little known facts about Woods such as his mugging at Stanford and problems with the NCAA regarding his eligibility, we are left without a clue about the young man himself. His golf achievements and statistical records are reported but what is absent is the inner life of Woods and little interpretation as to his importance for golf's future years. Perhaps Tiger and his family were wise not to work with the reporter.

Regardless of those faults Rosaforte's book is worth having in terms of getting some insight about Woods as a champion golfer. In this area the author does a great service but as a biographer he falls short of the task. Obtain this book as a collector's item on one of Golf's finest players.

A Very Well Written Book
2001-02-22 - Although the story dragged in the beginning, I found the book Tiger Woods The Makings Of A Champion very interesting and entertaining. It was also a very well written book. It struck me with awe when I read that Tiger started swinging a golf club at 10 months. The book also shows people how hard Tiger's childhood was. That he couldn't even play at some golf courses because he was black. It showed how great a golfer Tiger Woods is, and how he could possibly be the player of the future.

Insights into Pre-Dominant Tiger
2001-02-01 - Rosaforte is one of the very astute watchers and commentators on the PGA Tour. He admits here that much is rehash of publicity we've all heard over and over. Yet, he places it into the context of what has and was going on inside Tiger's family and circle during his transition from college player to pro.

I found this valuable towards how one views this amazing talent, especially his views of parents and how his fellow competitors accepted him from the start. The personal insights here are well worth the read. We all now know what Tiger did about fulfilling some of the potential spoken of here prophetically.

His continued climb into golf's greatness will be more easily framed and understood with this foundational look.