Chasing Tiger »

Curt Sampson is a former golf touring professional and a regular contributor to Golf magazine and golf.com. He is the author of seven books, including the bestsellers The Masters and Hogan - about which Steve Jones said, "I couldn't have won the US Open without reading this book." His most recent book, Royal and Ancient, is a behind-the-scenes look at the British Open. He lives in Ennis, Texas.

Tiger Woods has changed golf. What about the other guys? Curt Sampson digs deep to uncover stories that wouldn't otherwise be told. Here is an affectionate but wary account of one extraordinary man's impact on the world of sport. By turns moving, hilarious, and eye-opening, Chasing Tiger is a wonderful addition to the golf canon.

Publishers Weekly

There are few public figures as mysterious as Eldrick "Tiger" Woods; his apparent mistrust of the media and painstakingly crafted image deny the public much insight into his true colors. Sampson (The Masters) takes a shot at not just learning about Tiger, but at studying his considerable effect on the game of golf. The old sports writing axiom says, "The smaller the ball, the better the writing," and Sampson certainly has chops commensurate with golf's small sphere, though his inability to pass up on cheesy similes and metaphors can be off-putting. Former touring pro Sampson's connections in the sport are on par with his authorial flair. He searches far and wide for ripples stemming from Tiger, talking not only to opponents but to tournament directors, fellow media types, Tiger's family and golfers from the sport's past. Perhaps Sampson casts his net too wide; at times, the individuals he profiles seem to possess a tangential-at-best connection to Tiger. Sampson is best at capturing the details the smell of pine straw on a course or the flush on the back of a pressured participant's neck as only a golf aficionado and ace writer can. Of Tiger's swing coach, he writes: "Instructor Butch Harmon stands a few paces behind his student, impassive, silent, chewing gum, wearing shades, and looking for God-knows-what in that godlike swing." Ultimately, readers don't learn a lot about Tiger, but they do discover he's far more complex than he is bland. (June) Forecast: Tiger is hot, and any book that even hints of chipping away the golf pro's mystique is sure to draw attention and sales. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Contents

Introduction

1 Total Commitment!

2 The Tuna Mint

3 Chasing Frank Lickliter

4 Keiser, Fleck, or Fiori

5 A Bowl of Life

6 Tigerwoodsisgod.com

Postscript