The Second Life of Tiger Woods

By: Michael Bamberger

Narrated by: David Morse

It’s one of the greatest comebacks of all time. And for Tiger Woods, getting back to the winner’s circle was only half the story. Written by a New York Times bestselling author and reporter who “knows the world of professional golf…like few others” (The Wall Street Journal) comes “the most insightful and evenhanded book written yet about one of the signature athletes of the last twenty-five years” (Booklist, starred review).

Tiger Woods’s long descent into a personal and professional hell reached bottom in the early hours of Memorial Day in 2017. Woods’s DUI arrest that night came on the heels of a desperate spinal surgery, just weeks after he told close friends he might never play tournament golf again. His mug shot and alarming arrest video were painful to look at and, for Woods, a deep humiliation. The former paragon of discipline now found himself hopelessly lost and out of control, exposed for all the world to see. That episode could have marked the beginning of Tiger’s end. It proved to be the opposite.

Instead of sinking beneath the public disgrace of drug abuse and the private despair of a battered and ailing body, Woods embarked on the long road to redeeming himself. In The Second Life of Tiger Woods, Michael Bamberger, who has covered Woods since the golfer was an amateur, draws upon his deep network of sources inside locker rooms, caddie yards, clubhouses, fitness trailers, and back offices to tell the true and inspiring story of the legend’s return. Packed with new information and graced by insight, Bamberger’s story reveals how this iconic athlete clawed his way back to the top.

This is a “gripping” (Kirkus Reviews) and intimate portrait of a man who has spent his life in front of the camera but has done his best to make sure he was never really known. Here is Tiger, barefoot, in handcuffs, showing a police officer a witty and self-deprecating side of himself that the public never sees. Here is Tiger on the verge of tears with his children at the British Open. Here is Tiger trying to express his gratitude to his mother at a ceremony at the Rose Garden. In these pages, Tiger is funny, cold, generous, self-absorbed, inspiring—and real.

The Second Life of Tiger Woods is not only the saga of an exceptional man but also a celebration of second chances. Bamberger’s bracingly honest book is about what Tiger Woods did, and about what any of us can do, when we face our demons head-on.

Very Good!

Having had the opportunity to meet and interact with Tiger 5-6 times for maybe 5 minutes each instance due to a previous job in golf, I enjoyed this insightful and honest bio of Tiger.

Well done and fairly balanced

Bamberger‘s work often shows a bit of a agendaIn. In this book, the time benchmarks and achievements were noted. Personality quirks were developed fairly and the complexity of being the center of the golf universe were viewed with some level of patience and understanding.Probably this author’s best work.

Great Story Better Acting

This was my 3rd tiger woods bio in three weeks and it was the most poetic and dramatic rendition of the GOAT. It performed like a soap opera in the best way.

The Second Life of Tiger Woods - fantastic

Michael Bamberger’s book focuses on Tiger Woods’ remarkable comeback from the depths of his humiliating arrest in Florida in 2017 to his improbable and inspiring win at the Master’s tournament in 2019.

This is not a hagiography by any stretch, but it’s also written with dignity and empathy. The fact that Bamberger is such a respected figure in the world of golf ensures that the reader is getting credible, compelling information concerning one of the most fascinating figures in the history of sports. The author’s impressive knowledge is invaluable in providing context relevant to both Tiger and the history of the game.

To top it off, the book is narrated by “the father of our country”, the great actor David Morse.

Highly recommended for golf and sports fans but also for anyone who wants to read a real life story about what can be accomplished through hard work, determination and even courage.

I had read Bamberger’s wonderful book “Men in Green”, so I had high expectations in starting this book. Those expectations were met - and then some.

Resilience.

A clear look from the inside, Tiger is on the prowl again and set to become the undisputed G.O.A.T..🐐 Greatest Of All Time. And this book delivers a look into the eyes of the Tiger.