TIGER WOODS: Roaring Success and Swift Fall

Success inspires you to succeed, and when you repeat this under different conditions, it makes you stop and think about it. And if you find success stories and elements contributing towards them stimulating, then you may emulate them as well! This is what Brad Kearns attempts to do by writing a book on the factors responsible for making Tiger a super achiever. People with vision live with discipline, and they make sure their routines do not alter. Tiger has his own formula, which has worked for him, and Kearns suggests that it can work for everyone. Yes, even if you are not a golfer, you can emulate the same in your daily life. It is the second time, that Kearns has used a great athlete to promote the age old adage—‘self-help is best help’.

Earlier, he wrote How Lance Does it, which was received well across the world. This appears to be sequel on the same lines and is meant to attract readers who are looking for inspiration and guidance. To write another thematic self-help book, Kearns must have received positive feedback from the market and readers. This is the third book by the author, not to mention the numerous articles and research papers published in various sports journals across the world. And he has all the credentials to write on sports.

A successful triathlete professional, he won 31 events and was ranked third in the world at one time. An acclaimed motivational speaker, his first book was Breakthrough Triathlon Training. He also plays golf with a 3.8 handicap and has a deep interest in the game. Interestingly, he was a competitor in the South California Junior Golf circuit, where Tiger Woods was noticed as a promising young golfer. All these elements give Kearns the understanding to offer an insightful perspective on the Tiger phenomenon, and how the World No.1 achieves success, not only on different golf courses spread over different parts of the world, but also as a human being with a lifelong commitment to ‘care and share’.

Tiger may have won 14 Majors, and in all probability may win the highest number of Majors, but the book is not about his achievements. It is about how he does it? Is it the mental attitude or the body of steel, or simply an urge to win under any circumstance? What lies inside Tiger Woods, and how he attained his current position and strength, which is enviable not only to golfers across the world but for any athlete looking for glory.

Every person is born with natural talent but it can be of little help if not used in a proper way. Tiger has converted his talents into a killer instinct, and with his consistent dominance of contemporary golf, he is also dubbed as the world’s greatest athlete. However, we have to look beyond the drives and swings of Tiger to get a clear perspective on Tiger. He is not only hungry to win, but has this commitment to pursuit of personal excellence. Tiger is not afraid to loose, but even in failure he is gracious. The book gives you an insight into the mind and heart of the great player.

Kearns makes full use of his contacts in sports world. By using intimate interviews with contemporary players, coaches, trainers and examples from Tiger’s professional and personal life, he attempts to reveal the psyche of the great golfer. How Tiger Does It concludes that Tiger has succeeded due to three factors: Focus, Work-Play Ethic and Balanced Approach. The author has quoted Tiger extensively and the book is replete with turning points from Tiger’s life. The book encourages you to approach everything without fear and work relentlessly on your goal, unmindful of the result.

At a time when almost every person is tense and works under pressure, the book guides you how to tackle pressure Tiger’s way and turn it into positive energy. Do not approach your work with all the seriousness, but add a little play to get the optimum results. The world has turned into an ongoing competition. From early childhood days when kids compete against kids to get admission into school, to adulthood when lakhs of kids take competitive exams to get into professional colleges, the book advises the reader to adopt a relaxed and fearless approach towards life. By keeping our nerves under control and being cool, one can achieve peak performance. Kearns reveals that Tiger has achieved physical, mental and emotional balance, which leads to a healthy perspective and positive attitude towards life under any condition. Overall, the book is a good addition in the self-help category and provides useful tips to live life to the full—Tiger way! You can apply them to your own goals, career and everyday challenges, and achieve success. And then who does not want to read about Tiger?

Who Made it Happen

For a player whose win at the Indian Open in 1991 heralded a new era for Indian golf and opened up the floodgates for players, Ali Sher appears to be a diminutive person. Coming from a generation where humility was the hallmark, Ali is unpretentious about his achievements and would rather suggest you ask “others” about his landmark victory.

When reminded of his contribution to Indian golf, he says, “I am happy that all the players respect me for my seniority and wherever I go I am recognised as Indian Open winner.” Despite being the first Indian pro to win the Indian Open, he credits Jeev Milkha Singh, Gaurav Ghei and Jyoti Randhawa for making the game popular with victories in different Tours.

Since the victory of Billu Sethi in 1965, a year after the inaugural Indian Open, Indians looked up to the foreign stars as eventual winners and waited eagerly for goras. The scenario changed completely with Ali’s historic title. His fairytale success became the source of inspiration for golfers and many players turned pros after his triumph. And in the following years, Indian players not only were part of the field, they actually played to win. And now the nation boasts of winners such as Firoz Ali Mollah, Arjun Atwal, Vijay Kumar and Randhawa.

In recent times, the Indian Open has changed and so has the perception, but the name of Ali Sher is etched in golden letters. Says former DGC captain Ramesh Kohli, who was at the 18th greens when Ali lifted the trophy in 1991, “Without any doubt, it was hugely important…it was a path-breaking achievement. The win gave great impetus to professional golf in the country.” Kohli believes that the win “In a way was the turning point. There has been no looking back since then and he followed up with another win and then Gaurav’s victory in Gadgil Masters opened the avenues for Indian pros.” Kohli stressed that it was Ali who ended this ‘complex that Indians could not beat goras’.

Fellow pro players who have grown up under the shadow of Ali always offer their respect to him. Former Asian Order of Merit winner Jeev Milkha Singh recalls, “I was so excited to see him win. His win changed the thing for Indian golf and players.” Ghei agrees, “His victory brought recognition to Indian golfers especially at that time. Billu Sethi had won long time back… It gave a lot of momentum for people like Jeev and me, who had just turned pros.”

The victory of Ali was also important in another way as he scripted the successful transformation from a caddie to pro. Kohli says, “It was an important success story of caddie-turned-pro.” However, Ali dismisses all this talk of caddie-turned-pro and says those who talk in these terms only create division within the ranks of the players. “I have never felt that way…wherever I go, I get the same kind of respect from players and clubs.” Jeev Milkha Singh also dismissed such talks and said, “All players are one, there is no such division, they are all good players and are very talented”.

A veteran of Indian Open, Ali has been playing the event since 1988. When he won the Open, his share of the prize money was around Rs 10 lakh. However, the figure has increased since then with the changes on several fronts in Indian golf. This year’s total prize money has been raised to $ 1-million, which means that the player who finishes seventh will receive the same amount that Ali got as champion in 1991 and 1993. Ali does not remember much about the money but acknowledges that fact that it gave him instant fame. Kohli says, “I remember going to the finance minister to ask him for tax exemption.”

Just when Ali became the talk of the town and golf went from elites’ drawing rooms to the dingy houses of caddies and many turned pros, there were critics who considered the win a fluke. All this talk made Ali unhappy and true to his nature he preferred to speak through action and his repeat win in 1993, was sensational. Golf started getting recognised as a professional sport instead of a pastime. Ali’s exploits were recognised by the government, and he was awarded with the Arjuna award. The Delhi Golf Club also acknowledged the achievement of its former caddie by giving him honorary membership of the club.

Ali is a self-made player and the only help he received, was from Phil Philing, whom he considers to be his favourite player. Ali picked up the basic nuances of the game by initially caddying for Philing. This year, Ali has completed two decades of his journey at the Indian Open which is a milestone in itself. Amongst the current breed of players, Ali rates Rashid Khan as a fine prospect.

With golf making inroads into India, players seeing rise in their earnings and more of them playing on different tours abroad, it is time to remember the contribution made by Ali. He made the Indian players believe that if he could win against a field dominated by goras, so could any of them. Until Randhawa’s arrival on the scene a decade later, Ali remained the only Indian to win the Indian Open twice.