Hank Haney Book: How 'The Big Miss' Will Impact Tiger Woods and Golf in 2012

The Big Miss by Hank Haney is going to grab some headlines, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to change anyone's views on Tiger.

Still, it will make an impact on both Tiger and the world of golf, this year and beyond. Let's take a look at just how that will happen. 

How it will impact the golf world?

It won't impact fans of the game or Tiger's rivals in any way, and here's why.

People's minds have been made up about Tiger since the personal life issues came to a head on Thanksgiving weekend in 2009, if not before. 

If anyone really needs proof of that, I would suggest they read the comments section in nearly any article about Tiger Woods. People who care have their minds made up, and absolutely nothing Haney could possibly write about Tiger will change that. 

That's not to say that the book won't sell, or that more topics won't come from it that get people talking. But the opinions you hear from it are going to be the same that you hear now. The people bashing Tiger right now will be the ones bashing him after reading the book, and the people defending him won't change either.

Now, it will impact the golf world in a different way that has nothing to do with anyone's opinions of Tiger. 

How it will impact Tiger?

This one is a lot more interesting, especially after winning at Bay Hill a week ago. While I have never really believed in "Bulletin Board Material," this is worth delving into a little bit. 

Put yourself in Tiger's shoes for a moment. Let's say that you and someone you were close with for a number of years had a bit of a falling out and you went your separate ways. Then, let's say that that person decided to write a book about your relationship. Of course, the nature of the book is negative, even if there are compliments in it. 

If you're anything like me, it would irritate you. My reaction would be to do everything I could to get back to the top of the world in whatever area the book was written about. 

In Tiger's case, it's not extra motivation on the golf course (ie. I am really going to focus on making this putt now), but motivation to be on the course more.

Over the last few years, we've seen Tiger take significant time off. In some cases it was to heal an injury, while in others it was more related to the personal dramas, but Tiger has not been on the course a lot since this moment nearly four years ago. 

I am looking for that to change this year. In a lot of ways it already has, which is why he won for the first time in more than three years. 

Basically, this gives Tiger one more excuse to re-dedicate himself to the game of golf. Don't look for opinions of him to change based on anything in the book, but this will be one last push that the sleeping giant needed to be awoken. 

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