No athlete has changed his sport the way Tiger Woods has transformed the world of golf. The Tiger phenomenon has created a new legion of golfers, seduced by Woods's almost effortless mastery of this most difficult game. In How I Play Golf Woods reveals the many facets of his game and offers a plethora of tips and advice aimed at all levels of play. Unlike most golf guides, and perhaps somewhat surprising from a player best known for his long game, How I Play Golf begins with the short game--putting, chipping, and pitching--before moving onto swing mechanics and hitting off the tee. Produced in conjunction with the editors of Golf Digest, the book is lavishly photographed and illustrated and offers a gold mine of useful ideas and mental images Tiger has collected over the years. Throughout, Tiger recounts memorable shots from his relatively brief career; for example, his only "perfect" shot (a 3-wood on No. 14 at St. Andrews) and his first putt at the 1995 Masters (a 20-footer for birdie on No. 1 that missed and rolled off the green). How I Play Golf is not only a first-rate instructional guide, it also communicates a passion and respect for the game that beginners, hackers, and low handicappers should find inspiring. Highly recommended. --Harry C. Edwards


From Publishers Weekly
Very few sports figures have accomplished as much as Woods has already achieved at age 25. He has been named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated twice; he has won more than 30 professional tournaments and he's the youngest player to win the Grand Slam four of the major pro championships. Despite his many commercials and product endorsements, Woods is one of the rare athletes who isn't overplayed in the media. Unlike many other sports stars, Woods plays and wins quietly. That may explain why this instructional book will reach far beyond the links. Woods talks about his experiences and his attitudes toward golf and life. The conversational tone is quite engaging: "The difference between golf and most other sports is that anyone of average intelligence and coordination can learn to play it well. It requires a commitment to being the best that you can be. That has always been my approach to the game.... Pop gave me many great lessons, not only about golf, but also about life. His greatest advice to me was always be myself." On watching the ball, Woods says, "If you're like me, you can't wait to see if the ball is tracking toward the hole right after the golf ball leaves the putterface.... The tendency to peek too soon causes your head to move and leads to off-sloppy contact.... I found an effective way to fight the problem: I practice putting with my left eye closed, so I can't see the target line at all with my peripheral vision. That makes it easier to keep my eyes looking straight down." Accompanied by wonderful photos, the book reads as if Woods is right there with the golfer, providing instructions. (Oct.) Forecast: With scheduled appearances on Oprah and Dateline along with extensive print and television advertising, this book will immediately shoot out of the bookstores. Strong sales should continue for a long time. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
What makes Woods a winner. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Everyone wants to know how Tiger Woods plays golf better than everyone else who has ever played the game. Unfortunately, his book does little to educate the masses for whom golf is a challenging and often frustrating game. Even worse, this abridged audio edition omits virtually all of the how-to photos and does little more than string together basic golf information amid a seemingly endless run of clichŽs. Walter Franks tries admirably to convey the book's message. He seems bored, however, by Woods's frequent recitation of great moments in his career, and lacks the intensity and emotion that Woods conveys on the golf course. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Book Description
There's no denying that Tiger Woods has taken golf by storm. It seems like every time this 25-year-old swings a club, another PGA record is shattered. While his explosive drives, accurate approach shots, and steady putter certainly contribute to this success, both fans and critics agree that it's Tiger's devastating mental game that has propelled him to become the premier golfer of our time. Now Tiger shares his thoughts on what he calls the game of a lifetime. He reveals the five secrets he believes are responsible for his success-a combination of physical, metaphysical, and psychological practices he uses daily to keep his game in top shape and help him to transcend all the ups and downs of golf. Best of all, Tiger reveals his unique approach to the game for the first time ever in this one singular volume.


About the Author
Tiger Woods became the youngest player ever to complete the career Grand Slam of professional major championships and only the fifth ever to do so, following the likes of Jack Nicklaus. He was also the youngest Masters champion ever, at the age of 21, and has since won 29 tournaments, including the 1999 and 2000 PGA Championships, the 2000 U.S. Open Championship, and the 2000 British Championship. He is the career victories leader among active players on the PGA tour.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
At the age of 25, Tiger Woods already ranked as one of the greatest golfers of all time. How I Play Golf is Tiger's debut instructional guide on the mental, physical, and emotional approach to the sport he has mastered. Rather than telling readers how to golf, Woods tells readers how he golfs. It is a brilliant touch -- who better to emulate?

Tiger first illustrates his putting technique, then describes how he pitches, punches, chips, and blasts irons and woods from the tee and the fairway. A few things that have helped his game: a consistent preshot routine and lightening up on the grip (especially when putting). Betraying his expertise, Tiger harps on some aspects of golf many of us have never considered: for example, what is the proper approach to a ball resting in an incidental sand divot in the middle of the fairway? How should one grip a three-wood for a short chip to the green, hit a mud-splotched ball, or a ball partially submerged in water?

In addition to mechanical instruction, Tiger describes the physical preparation and mental approach that have enabled him to play this bedeviling sport for fun and profit. Though Tiger's been golfing since his days in the crib, he hasn't always had the habits of a champion. There isn't a harder worker on the tour; indeed, there isn't anybody who so personifies golf as does Tiger Woods. Understanding how he plays and approaches the sport will help readers reduce their handicap significantly. Just as Tiger copied Jack Nicklaus's interlocking grip, readers may adopt Tiger's techniques. Upon finishing the book, one could proudly claim (in the spirit of the Nike commercials), "I am Tiger Woods!" (Brenn Jones)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

There is simply no athlete quite like Tiger Woods. His domination of golf is unparalleled. His achievements at the beginning of his career are extraordinary. And his approach to the game, from the power of his drives to the discipline of his mind, stands a cut above that of his competitors.

Now Tiger Woods has written his book about how he plays golf, offering us an intimate view of both his game---mental arid physical-and his unique personality on and off the course.

Golf fans everywhere have been waiting for this guide-the first and only how-to authorized by Tiger Woods. In it, Tiger reveals how he leaned the game backward-from the green to the tee. He clearl methodically analyzes every aspect of the sport, from lining up a putt to following through on a tee shot, from choosing the right club to keeping his focus after a bad shot. With hundreds of brilliant photos, Tiger uses a frame-by-frame approach to explain his golf fundamentals, examining his personal intricacies of grip, stance, ball position, balance, rhythm, and routine,. As Tiger shows us how he does it, and how he has learned to make changes in his own game, he helps us improve ours with some of his favorite techniques and tips, including: Tiger's six keys to a great Backswing The biggest, most common mistake in putting and how to avoid it How to psyche yourself up for a key shot, and how to "throttle back" when you need to How to practice your golf shots-,and have fun The "knockdown" shot-learn how to keep a ball out of high winds and heading its tote direction you want it to go Tiger's do's and don'ts of course management, including knowing when and when not to lay up Tiger's best exercises to upgrade your strength and flexibility. With wonderful asides about golf as a contest of character, and Tiger's recollections of how he learned the game from his dad and how he competes today against the best players in the world on courses from Augusta to St. Andrews, How I Play Golf is as personable and charming as it is instructive. Indeed, this book may be the ultimate golf lesson.

SYNOPSIS

There's no denying that Tiger Woods has taken golf by storm. It seems like every time this 25-year-old swings a club, another PGA record is shattered. While his explosive drives, accurate approach shots, and steady putter certainly contribute to this success, both fans and critics agree that it's Tiger's devastating mental game that has propelled him to become the premier golfer of our time. Now Tiger shares his thoughts on what he calls the game of a lifetime. He reveals the five secrets he believes are responsible for his success-a combination of physical, metaphysical, and psychological practices he uses daily to keep his game in top shape and help him to transcend all the ups and downs of golf. Best of all, Tiger reveals his unique approach to the game for the first time ever in this one singular volume.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Very few sports figures have accomplished as much as Woods has already achieved at age 25. He has been named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated twice; he has won more than 30 professional tournaments and he's the youngest player to win the Grand Slam four of the major pro championships. Despite his many commercials and product endorsements, Woods is one of the rare athletes who isn't overplayed in the media. Unlike many other sports stars, Woods plays and wins quietly. That may explain why this instructional book will reach far beyond the links. Woods talks about his experiences and his attitudes toward golf and life. The conversational tone is quite engaging: "The difference between golf and most other sports is that anyone of average intelligence and coordination can learn to play it well. It requires a commitment to being the best that you can be. That has always been my approach to the game.... Pop gave me many great lessons, not only about golf, but also about life. His greatest advice to me was always be myself." On watching the ball, Woods says, "If you're like me, you can't wait to see if the ball is tracking toward the hole right after the golf ball leaves the putterface.... The tendency to peek too soon causes your head to move and leads to off-sloppy contact.... I found an effective way to fight the problem: I practice putting with my left eye closed, so I can't see the target line at all with my peripheral vision. That makes it easier to keep my eyes looking straight down." Accompanied by wonderful photos, the book reads as if Woods is right there with the golfer, providing instructions. (Oct.) Forecast: With scheduled appearances on Oprah and Dateline along withextensive print and television advertising, this book will immediately shoot out of the bookstores. Strong sales should continue for a long time. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Woods's very popular book of personal golf techniques has been transformed into a gem of an instructional audiotape. He teaches the listener the essential physical and psychological aspects of golf, from putting and the short game to the tee shot and the mechanics of one magnificent drive. There is a photo booklet that shows proper positioning of the body, hands, and club for each aspect of Woods's game, which is essential to understanding his methods; keeping track of that booklet in circulation is a potential problem. Listeners are encouraged to stop the tape, examine the booklet, and practice the techniques throughout. There are enough illustrations from Woods's golf exploits to keep the program interesting and to motivate the listener to pick up a club and give it a try. The author explains golf down to the lifestyle: technique, continuous practice, exercise, diet, attitude, and love for the game. Excellently read by Walter Franks, this is very highly recommended. Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile