Tiger Woods’ Former Coach: Golfer Had Planned on Quitting to Become a SEAL
- Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:20am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Tiger Woods (L) talks with former coach, Hank Haney. (AP)
Tiger Woods the Navy SEAL? That‘s what Woods’s former golf coach is saying almost happened.
In an explosive new book by Hank Haney titled, “The Big Miss,” Woods‘s former golf guru says one of the world’s most recognizable golfers almost gave it all up to become a SEAL.
“Tiger was seriously considering becoming a Navy SEAL. I didn‘t know how he’d go about it, but when he talked about it, it was clear he had a plan,” Haney writes in an excerpt. “I thought, `Wow, here is Tiger Woods, greatest athlete on the planet, maybe the greatest athlete ever, right in the middle of his prime, basically ready to leave it all behind for a military life.’”
How close was that to becoming a reality? According to Haney, Woods had started training with elite soldiers.
“The purpose was a sort of ‘dry run’ to determine whether he could physically and mentally handle the demands,” Haney writes in the book, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Haney cites the time Woods spent four days of special operations training in 2004 at Fort Bragg, N.C.
“Tiger did two tandem parachute jumps, engaged in hand-to-hand combat exercises, went on four-mile runs wearing combat boots, and did drills in a wind tunnel,” Haney writes. “Tiger loved it, but his physical therapist, Keith Kleven, went a little crazy worrying about the further damage Tiger might be doing to his left knee.”
Haney also writes that he was in the kitchen when Woods returned from a long run wearing Army boots. He says Woods told him he’s worn the boots before on the same route and told Haney, “I beat my best time.”
Woods’s father, Earl, was a green beret in the Army who did two tours during the Vietnam War.
“While the excerpt didn’t specify when Woods seriously considered giving up golf,” writes Yahoo, “you have to believe it was most likely between 2004 and 2008 (he won six majors during that span), when Haney and Woods were working together.”
Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent at Excel Sports Management, said in a statement that excerpts show Haney’s claim of the book being about golf is “clearly false.”
“His armchair psychology about Tiger, on matters he admits they didn’t even discuss, is ridiculous,” Steinberg said. “Because of his father, it’s no secret that Tiger has always had high respect for the military, so for Haney to twist that admiration into something negative is disrespectful.”
Woods is playing the next two weeks in south Florida, at the Honda Classic and Cadillac Championship at Doral, as he prepares for the Masters. Woods has not won at Augusta National since 2005.
“The disruptive timing of this book shows that Haney’s self-promotion is more important to him than any other person or tournament,” Steinberg said. “What’s been written violates the trust between a coach and player and someone also once considered a friend.”
The book goes on sale March 27, a week before the Masters.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (42)
thejackal
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:28pmBaaawwwwaahahahahahahaha! Tiger Woods a Navy Seal, baaaahahahahhahhaha. What a total joke. That little girly man wouldn’t last a single day of B.U.D.S. school. He ran in combat boots, ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh, sign him up! “The Greatest Athelete on the Planet” baahahahahaha! Yeah him and the world champion bowler. What a joke. I’d love to get this nancy-boy in a ring, he wouldn’t last 30 seconds. What a joke.
Report Post »jay1975
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:21pmHe wanted to join up? How patriotic it must have felt for him to imagine himself the hero for a few minutes. Wow, I wish I could have had such a strong patriot as my comrade. Every time I hear a civilian say they thought about joining, I get all choked up at their love of country and willingness to almost sacrifice. I often wonder what happened when they told their families that they thought about joining, but decided not to. It must have been so tough to sit back and watch the rest of us deploy and serve while they struggled with their thoughts.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:13pmTiger should have set his sights a little lower than being a Seal. He did, however, make weasel with flying colors.
Report Post »jackact
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:10pmBut if Tiger became a Seal then he would
Report Post »have to get divorced from Heidi Klum……
the other ‘outstanding’ example of a truly
harmonious interracial marriage.
Tiger….stick a fork in it.
You’re done.
AnAmerican111
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:07pmThumbs up to Tiger on this one as all American’s should appreciate and respect our armed forces and those that choose to serve!
Report Post »Tandem2011
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 12:52pmHe was trying to reinvent himself after America’s iconic heroes. Hubris or guilt…or the need for approval?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:23amJust because his father gave him an animal name doesn’t give him the power to change animals. You can’t seal the woods thru the forest
Report Post »Guitar Master
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:09amzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
THE REPORTER’S View
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Point No.1 – Hank Haney is a disgruntled ex golf instructor of Tiger Woods. If you were fired by Woods would you say anything flattering about your ex employer? Haney is clearly trying to sell copy.
Point No.2 – Tiger Woods is a has been. His career is over and some would say “rightfully so,” because of the sex scandal he created. To Woods, it’s all about winning. His impeccably “pure” image was burst when the scandal broke. His image was destroyed forever and that was a big part of his reason for playing well.
Point No. 3 – Woods doesn’t have the mental make-up to go through boot-camp let alone to Seal training. Nuff-said.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:36amTiger can’t carry his own golf clubs. They wouldn’t let him hose down their equipment after deployment.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:07pmUSN SEALs are TEAM players… something tiger woods has NO concept of, his whole life was ME ME ME ME…. he would not have lasted 1 HOUR in BUDS.
Report Post »capitalizmwrks
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:54amWOW….So let me get this straight. You are all bashing on him and calling all kinds of names for a story that has been denied and called FALSE. EVEN IF the story is true, are you really condemning an American his right to put down everything that he has worked for HIS ENTIRE LIFE and go and serve his freak’n country???? Congratulations, I hope you all feel better about yourselves today. Now please tell me what a horrible person I am for standing up for someone wanting to serve his country. And save your “But he cheated on his wife and family” comments for the next Newt Gingrich story…SOME ONE TRYING TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY you dunce!
Report Post »Wigglesworth
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:51amYes, and I considered becoming the heavy weight boxing champ of the world so that makes me a really tough guy.
Report Post »little big man
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:02amWoods would have never made it. I was stationed in Iceland back in the 80′s one of the guys I worked with he was excepted into the seals, but lasted 2 or 3 weeks then rang out. he was much tougher they woods.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:06amTo me the story is not about Tiger – This book was written w/o his consent or input.
Report Post »To me the story is, again, how employees of celebrities feel the need to stab their friends in the back for money. Hope the coach enjoys his 20 shekels!
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:57amI finally figured it out. This isn’t a news story. It is the humor story of the day.
Report Post »hi
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:51amThat’s hilarious! Golfers are so wimpy hitting a little ball in a cup, and Seals are the ultimate macho guys.
Report Post »PPMStudios
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:42amYou don’t just decide to become a SEAL. Even a Tiger can’t do it….
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:55amWow, and I set out to be a pro athlete, and ended up an Army Ranger. Guess thats what happens when you are short on talent.
Report Post »GJPinks
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:34amIt sounds possible and fits with the way he works. Working out with military types, testing himself to find out if he could handle it. Very possible he wanted to but realized that with his knee condition there was no way he could have made it thru. I believe he is a sincere man who knows he made one of the biggest mistakes possible and that still haunts him. If he was a complete slime he already has enough money he could quit golf and run with Tigerblood Charlie.
Report Post »Gunonesis
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:31amThe greatest athlete ever, really? I guess he would have saved the world! Truth is he would have never made it as a SEAL. Looks like someone is trying to drum up some positive press for a has been.
Report Post »Highland
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:26amI agree. Can’t picture Tiggy living in military housing and taking orders from anyone. Plus, Navy life might have cut into his, ahem, extracurricular activities a bit.
Report Post »Missouri Mule
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:30amClose only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.
Report Post »P.S. Glenn, THIS IS NOT NEWS. REMEMBER, YOUR BUSINESS MODEL IS DIFFERENT!
SoupSandwich
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:26amOh it is true. Right along with Rose Ellen, Jerky Boy, Encinomom, and Al Gore. Lots of people would want to become a Seal and do something with their lives, then they get drowned a few times up at Buds in Feb or Mar and say enough. Sure. Uh huh. I personally couldn‘t make it from Scout to Weeblos because I wouldn’t eat a Brownie at that age, but to each his own. Hey Rosey??? You know why it ain’t tactical for women to jump into combat?? They whistle.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:08am.
Report Post »A SEAL really? Didn’t he lose his strength after all his Hoochies were exposed? And besides his wife at the time beat his ass with a golf club. I don‘t think that’s SEAL material………..
cheburashka
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:06amI am pretty sure that one he washed out during hell week and would be sent out to the fleet he decided against joining the Navy.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:02amMost SEALS probably don’t get the crap beat out of them by thier wives. That may have been when Tiger decided to play golf for a little while longer
Report Post »hi
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:55amHa! Addidas missed their opportunity to make athletic shoes named after Elin to go against Tiger’s Nike sneakers. Every mom would have bought them for their kids!
Report Post »ShyMan
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:34amA tiger seal? Really?
Interesting.
He’d still be a pervert.
Report Post »drago
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:30amQuit to become a S.E.A.L, my ass……
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:44amHey, lay off Tiger.
Report Post »I heard he even went so far as to play with plastic army men.
How can you question commitment like that?
LOL
While I respect others who desire to serve our nation and protect our freedoms, I have a sense this was a bit on the self delusional side. Besides a military that rejects people for allergies or a hemorrhoid, is NOT going to be keen on a SEAL with a bad knee.
poorrichard09
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:55amThat’s a laugh! He’s too much of a pretty boy, egotistical narcissist to be a SEAL.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:29amGetting ready for… the next Bout with his Ex…
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:25amriiighhhhhtttttt…
Report Post »MYHEROISRON
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:32amWhat say ye, Tiger?
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:34amAfter breakfast this morning I’m going to be an astronaut…..
Report Post »Mark13
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:35amOoodegrees, if you’re going to be an astronaut, be sure to drink your Tang.
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