The Curious Timing of Hank Haney’s Book About Tiger Woods

Hank Haney, who coached Tiger Woods for six years, has been a trending topic over the last month for writing a book about their time together. It would be one thing if it was a book about golf, but Haney and his publishers knew that wouldn't exactly be a hot topic.

One way to sell books is to talk about the private life of one of the most private athletes in the world. Talking about that kind of book will get you interviews by the dozens. That's exactly what Haney has been doing the last few weeks, even if some of his interviews didn't end up going so great. Haney got into it with a host from WFAN and eventually hung up.

So what drove Haney to write the book? Apparently not money. Haney reveals he was only paid $50,000 a year to coach Tiger, but he didn't mind because he was raking it in from his golf academies. Haney says working with Tiger raised his brand, so basically he could make more just by being associated with Tiger.

Some of the personal things Haney put in the book are that after his scandal broke, Tiger would read stories all the time about himself online, including the brutal reader comments sections. Haney says Tiger considered quitting golf to try to become a Navy SEAL. Haney claims Tiger is a bad tipper and that he refused to give autographs to little kids.

Information like that comes across mean spirited, and like someone is holding a grudge. Haney has said if his book was all positive, then it wouldn't have been an honest book. The bigger question is, was it a necessary book? 

'The Big Miss; My Years Coaching Tiger Woods' was released last week. Tiger was not happy about the book, and didn't appreciate it when reporters brought it up. I can't blame the guy. 

But Hank makes a valid point, saying that the memories aren't Tiger's exclusively, they're his too. 

Hank is within his rights to write a book about those memories, but maybe he should have kept them for himself.

Article by Eric Gray