The Big Miss

My Years Coaching Tiger Woods

By: Hank Haney

Narrated by: Hank Haney

Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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.

The Big Miss: Doesn't Miss!

I remember when this title came out. My first thought like everyone else was an opportunity for everyone to pile on Tiger's fall from grace but now I see that's a bit harsh. I was at Torrey Pines on the Monday, 2008 U.S. Open playoff rooting for Rocco Mediate, hoping, just hoping Tiger would lose and everyone would be able to see that he was mortal. As history shows, that didn't happen. Tiger won the 2008 U.S. Open, and his legend continued.

Hank Haney gives an inside look into what it takes to be the world's greatest golfer, and what it must be like to be Tiger Woods, and his swing coach. Remove the sex scandal, and the speculation of PED's (adequately outlined by Haney) and you'll find a very driven, complex individual that is difficult, if not impossible to figure out let alone beat after 72 holes. The guy is amazing!

I chose this title in preparation for the 2017 golf season and sort of a primer for my game this year. I've never been a big Tiger Woods fan though anyone can see that his golf game has elevated the demands, and expectations of the sport to a new level over the last 20 years. Everyone wants a game like Tiger even on his bad days. And he sets the standard even when he's not playing as confirmed by his fan base. After he missed the cut at the 2017 Farmers at Torrey Pines, the gallery was almost empty, and television coverage noted their absence on Saturday/Sunday.

If you're a golfer preparing for this season, or are simply looking to understand how one of Golf's greatest players became the games best for a period, add this title to your queue. Even though the narration is a bit unpolished, you won't be disappointed.

We're only human...

I was reluctant to continue to read this book, after I had already purchased the hard copy. But then I decided to try this version in Coach Haney's voice. I ended up loving the story. Now I have even more respect for Tiger. He's only human and a terrific golfer. It also goes to show that golf needs a stable mindset to perform.

Great golf book!

I thought the book is well written, very informative on both Tiger the golfer and as a person and golf in general. I also think Hank did an excellent job of narrating his book. I had two main reasons for reading the book; first for my interest in Hank Haney’s golf training methods and then to find out what all the controversy was about.
Though it’s not being advertised as a golf instructional book, I found it to be very insightful into the mental side of the game, much of which the average golfer can put to use.
As for the controversy, I found nothing in the book about Tiger, the person, to be any big secret to anyone that follows golf. Hank states numerous times in the book how much he respects Tiger’s golf abilities and thanks him many times for the opportunity to coach him. I thought the book was written from a coach’s perspective, with appropriate observations on Tiger reactions on what Hank was trying to teach him, nothing more, nothing less. I think it’s a great book about golf, period.

Great book!

Loved it! Always interesting to hear about Tiger! I think most will enjoy this book.

A new side of tiger

Hank reveals a lot of the detachment Woods brings into relationships. Hank also shines a light on the toll society takes on a prodigy forced on to center stage. It's a good read.