Those are the words of Australian journalist Robert Lusetich — a long-time foreign correspondent and golf writer for The Australian — on Foxtel’s documentary series, Tiger, which was released earlier this month.
The two-parter follows Woods’ stunning rise from a child prodigy who was treated like a prince by his mother Kultida and told by his father Earl he would have a greater impact on humanity than Mandela, Gandhi or Buddha.
He would go on to win 15 majors and become the richest athlete in history but he is yet to become president of a nation or inspire his own religion.
It also chronicles his infamous fall from grace — a man who struggled with the enormous pressures of his celebrated career and led a double life that was tarnished by infidelity and, eventually, a highly publicised battle with prescription drugs that ended up in a Florida prison.
The doco ends with Tiger’s 2019 Masters victory — arguably the greatest comeback story in professional sport.
It’s an emotional journey that is well worth watching — AWAAT’s local barista said he was even moved to tears — but one that stops well short of the full picture.
The “revenge” Lusetich speaks of might otherwise be known as “tall poppy syndrome” but, boy, did he give us all some ammunition to cut him down with.
The documentary is based on the 2018 book, Tiger Woods, by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian,and Lusetich — whose 2010 book, Unplayable: An Inside Account of Tiger Woods’ Most Tumultuous Season was heavily referenced in the 2018 tome — was used as a consultant and a talking head whose Aussie accent stands out as a voice of authenticity. “Keteyian and I have some mutual friends/colleagues and when he and Benedict were writing the book, he sought me out and bought me breakfast and we chatted for quite a while,” Lusetich told AWAAT. “He followed a similar map to my book so I put him in touch with different people who’d be useful. He asked me to be involved and I agreed. Plenty wouldn’t.”
Why not? Because Tiger, despite his fall from the top, is still an incredibly powerful figure. The documentary was paid for by Discovery Inc — a company that owns the Golf Channel and Golf Digest. And guess who has a content deal with Discovery Inc … yes, Tiger Woods.
Could the doco have gone deeper into Tiger’s many personal failings? Anyone who read the Benedict-Keteyian book knows the TV special barely scratches the surface.
His many sordid flings are well-covered. The doco scored an interview with his most well-known mistress Rachel Uchitel (the book did not). She is the celebrity hostess who was once paid $10m by Tiger’s lawyers (“get what you can” he once told her) to keep quiet but was later forced to hand it back after an appearance on Celebrity Rehab With Dr Drew.
But there are other stories from the book that don’t make the cut that suggest the cosseted child became a man who cared little for anyone else but himself.
NBA great Charles Barkley would oftentrail behind Tiger and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan on their infamous Las Vegas trips, tipping the waitresses, bartenders, valets and caddies because the two gods of sport could not have cared less. Many a PGA Tour official would have to do the same over the years. His caddie Steve Williams is said to have dropped the odd $500 wad into the locker room before invoicing Tiger’s management.
“When Tiger got famous, he got mean,” said a former nightclub owner.
The story that sticks with AWAAT comes from Peggy Lewis, a woman who gave up her house in Augusta every year so Tiger had a base for his Masters assaults. Lewis eventually banned Woods from her home in 2002 when he trashed the joint after one of his five Masters titles. “It was bad enough that Tiger had never paid her for use of her home or left her a tip, but what really upset her was his basic lack of respect and appreciation,” Benedict and Keteyian reveal.
“Year after year she would return home to find her personal property damaged or destroyed, none of which Tiger had apologised for or offered to replace.
“(In 2002) shaving cream was smeared on the bedroom and bathroom walls. Plates with partially eaten food were left under Tiger’s bed. The kitchen looked as though it had hosted a frat party.”
Bedding was bloodstained and tossed aside, furniture was trashed by cigar butts, overseas phone calls racked up huge bills that went unpaid. Not a nice guy in 2002.
AWAAT has struggled with Tiger ever since reading that book. But we applauded nonetheless in 2019 when he wore the green jacket again. A new man with a new attitude to the world.
Lusetich, whose first Masters was Greg Norman’s memorable 1996 implosion and last was Tiger’s redemptive 2019 win, agreed that the documentary could’ve gone harder. Perhaps it needed more than two episodes.
“They did a good job,” Lusetich concludes. “I think Earl comes off a bit too much like the evil old man. I don’t think he was that. Tiger wanted it as much as he did. Ultimately, I wished I’d be getting paid every time they’re using my quote, ‘Tiger Woods conquered the world but the problem with conquering the world is the world’s going to want its revenge!’”
The cheque’s in the mail, Rob.
Hot to trot
While all the attention was on Margaret Court earlier this week, another female athlete was quietly doing things that have never been done before.
Harness racing driver Kerryn Manning became the first woman in the world to rack up 4000 wins when she pushed odds-on favourite Glenavril King — a horse she also trains — to victory at her home track of Stawell on Monday.
“It’s been a long time and there’s been many highlights,” she told the Stawell Times after the race.
“Every win is always a good win, but there’s always special ones out there. Today was even better because I always get stuck before a record but it was nice to get there on a horse that we train and on my home track.”
Manning’s first win came 28 years ago, giving her a strike-rate of 142 victories a year since.
The 44-year-old, who has also trained more than 1000 winners, is a legend in the harness racing world and a role model for female harness racing participants.
“It makes you feel like what you’re doing is worthwhile and (that) you get out of bed every day to be an inspiration to somebody is pretty good,” she told thetrots.com.au. “Certainly the young generation is coming through now and we are getting a bit older, but it’s still nice to knock up a milestone and say ‘I’m still here and I can still do it’.”
BC’s tip of the week
Heavily-backed favourite Quantum Mechanic let the side down when she finished third at Sandown last week. Steering clear of the hot favourites at Caulfield later on Saturday, Brendan Cormick has latched on to one at double-figure odds for an each-way punt.
Save some coin for the last race because Kentucky Breeze (R9 No 4) is backable at $17. His recent outings have amounted to “forgive runs”.
mcloughlins@
theaustralian.com.au
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“Tiger Woods conquered the world but the problem with conquering the world is the world’s going to want its revenge!”