Review: The Second Life Of Tiger Woods

Don’t be fooled. Michael Bamberger has immense respect for his subject matter. But at times reading the longtime golf author’s new book, you might question at times just exactly how he feels about Tiger Woods.

This sensibility, however, was not created by Bamberger. It was Woods’ topsy-turvy decade and his bizarre last decade that miraculously ended in rebirth as a giant of sport. Bamberger’s issue is that he’s an outstanding reporter who picks up relatable details. It’s just that Tiger gave us two kinds of drama over the last decade and mercifully, after reviewing Woods’ injuries, the WD’s, the Dr. Galea time and the comeback trail, The Second Life of Tiger Woods (Avid Reader Press) finishes with the victorious 2019 Masters.

The number of insights, stories and well-labeled legends of anecdotal lineage are all presented in Bamberger’s inimitable style and often challenged by the reporter, as well. For as rough as some reminders are of Woods’ DUI or his struggles to recover his game, the ride is filled with plenty of stellar anecdotes for lovers of all things golf, and in particular, The Masters. (For devotees of the tradition unlike any other, the book is worth the cover price for Bamberger’s fresh details just on how the Champions Dinner works and Woods’ approach to the 2019 Masters. Oh, and the the Augusta National Golf Club security drive story that reportedly got Tiger laughing hard.)

Since we have no 2020 Masters to watch, reliving everything leading up to Tiger’s fifth title is well worth the ride, even if the road was bumpier than we’d prefer to recall.