4 Reasons We Will Definitely Read Hank Haney's Book on Tiger Woods

Hank Haney was not only Tiger Woods' golf swing instructor for six years, he was also his friend.

From 2004 to 2010, Haney, still one of the premier golf instructors in the world, saw Tiger through the best of times and the worst of times. 

The details of their years spent together have been compiled in Haney's upcoming book entitled The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods—which will be released just prior to Masters Tournament week on March 27.

Tiger won more than a third of the tournaments he entered and six of his 14 major championships when he was working with Haney, including his dramatic 2008 US Open victory at Torrey Pines, where he fought through the anguish of a broken leg with incredible determination to defeat Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff.

It was Tiger's 14th major championship victory. He hasn't won one since.

Which brings me to the worst of times.

The personal problems Tiger infamously encountered late in 2009—they've been well documented.

Or have they?

A broken marriage and injury concerns began a seemingly endless list of unfortunate circumstances that led to the end of the Tiger Woods we once knew.

But did we ever really know him?

Despite being one of the most popular athletes in the world, Tiger Woods has always been something of an enigma to the public that has attempted to follow his every move. We want to know more.

Enter The Big Miss.

Here are four reasons we will definitely read Hank Haney's book on Tiger Woods.

What Really Happened the Night of November 25, 2009?

As human nature goes, we all want to know the details of what really happened the night of November 25, 2009. And the events that led up to it.

Call it morbid curiosity. Tiger Woods' personal problems are none of our business, but because he's in the public eye it becomes interesting—and our business.

Really?

I can actually remember where I was when I heard the news.

Appropriately, I was playing golf in the Outer Banks of North Carolina when my cousin asked me to check my iPhone for a college football score. In doing so, the headline that distracted me was of Tiger Woods' accident and reported hospitalization.

What happened? Is he alive? Is he OK?

The details that would follow were sketchy and to this day, nobody seems really sure they have the story straight. The supermarket tabloids were all over it, though, reporting Tiger's extramarital affairs that surfaced following this accident.

Is The Big Miss going there? Well, that's one of the reasons we're going to read the book.

While Haney's memoir is being described as "intimate," "revealing," and "candid," Tiger had a way of keeping people at a distance, even those closest to him. So don't expect Haney to suddenly announce any scandalous details.

I don't think he knew what was happening, anyway.

Still, we'll read the book to find out what he did know—and how much this public discovery of Tiger's secret life pushed him away from his student.

Who Is Tiger Woods?

Hank Haney has described Tiger Woods as one of the most complicated individuals he has ever met, let alone coached.

Based on what I know about Tiger Woods, that doesn't surprise me.

Aren't all geniuses complicated? Well, Tiger Woods is a genius when it comes to golf, so it stands to reason.

Tiger probably has more than his fair share of quirks—personal and professional.

Haney has worked with hundreds of elite golfers so he has pretty much seen it all, but according to the press release announcing this book, there were days watching Tiger on the range when he couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. On those days, it was impossible to imagine another human being playing golf so perfectly.

That's Tiger Woods. Sometimes.

Tiger didn't need Hank Haney to teach him how to play golf. Haney's most formidable coaching challenge would be solving the riddle of Tiger’s personality, to understand and remedy the emotional distractions that might diminish his game and keep him from his goals.

Haney would eventually run out of patience with Tiger, which led him to put an end to what he described as "the best job in golf coaching."

Now that's interesting reading.

All Access to Tiger Woods

As a writer/reporter who covers the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, I am afforded "inside access" on a regular basis to the athletes that play the game. I can talk to them on the phone, via email, and at a wide variety of locations at golf tournaments—from the media center to the locker room to the equipment trailers.

Except Tiger Woods. The only place I'm talking to Tiger—at least at this stage of my career—is during a pre- or post-round press conference and even then I have to contend with a lot of other reporters to get a question in.

And I can forget about follow-ups.

But there are a lot of other perks—and I'm not just talking about the credentials, the free food and the preferred parking.

For instance, I can walk around inside the ropes at tournaments, which I oftentimes do. That actually helps when you're following Tiger Woods, as I was at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, OH last year. He was playing with Ian Poulter and Bubba Watson. The gallery surrounding him was immense. If I hadn't been inside the ropes, I likely wouldn't even have been able to see him, let alone observe his golf swing or mannerisms.

That's as close as I've gotten to Tiger Woods—standing next to him on a tee box.

So, if I were to write a book about Tiger Woods, I'm sorry to say it wouldn't be very insightful. It certainly wouldn't be personal.

That's where Hank Haney and The Big Miss comes in.

Haney stayed at Tiger's house and observed him in nearly every circumstance—at tournaments, on the practice range, over meals, and relaxing with friends and family.

Hank Haney knows Tiger Woods. Living vicariously through Haney and his experiences via this book could be the next best thing to being there.

Why Is Tiger Woods Upset About This Book?

Since the official announcement was made a few weeks ago, Tiger Woods has not been very receptive to the fact a book is being written about him called The Big Miss.

I don't blame him. The title alone has a negative vibe to it. Maybe it's just a marketing ploy, I don't know.

But this doesn't sound like a feel good story if you ask me.

And the picture on the front cover is far from one of Tiger's more celebratory moments—a slumped shoulder silhouette image, cloudy skies. It reeks of defeat.

In a recent phone interview with ESPN, Tiger didn't mince words regarding his displeasure with the news of this upcoming memoir:

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"I think it's unprofessional and very disappointing, especially because it's someone I worked with and trusted as a friend," Tiger said. "There have been other one-sided books about me, and I think people understand that this book is about money. I'm not going to waste my time reading it."

"

The Big Miss can't be anything other than a distraction for Tiger, who would certainly rather bury his past once and for all and focus on the future. The past two years of his life have been primarily forgettable, so any instance to relive those years would have to be deemed as a less than enjoyable experience for Tiger.

Considering what he's been through since 2009, I would imagine Tiger would want his life to be even more private than ever. That might not be the angle his PR advisers would have him take, but I don't see Tiger endorsing any "tell all" books in the near future.

I think it's a simple case. Tiger Woods is a private person and he doesn't want anyone from his "inner circle"—past or present— to betray his trust by talking about what goes on—or has gone on—in his private life.

Fair enough. It seems Haney broke that trust by writing this book.

Haney can say it's not about the money. I mean, he sounds well-intentioned:

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"I hope that by writing this book, people will have a better understanding of who he is, what he’s accomplished, and how he was able to be at the top of his game for so long," he said.

"

But it's about the money.

Tiger Woods says he isn't going to read this book. And he probably doesn't want us to read it, either. That's precisely why we're going to.