Shooting for Tiger

Book excerpt: While many parents encourage their children to become the next Einstein or Yo-Yo Ma, some push their kids to become the next Tiger Woods. No longer does an elite, elderly set dominate golf. A new class of driven teenaged players is transforming the game, and a series of high-profile, professionally- run tournaments determine which of these teens have a shot at reaching the top levels. In Shooting for Tiger, William Echikson takes us inside a spirited season of the American Junior Golf Association's elite tournaments. From the fairways, Echikson unveils a fascinating sub culture: kids who have foregone traditional childhoods, families determined to produce champions, and rigorous golf academies devoted to training the world's top prospects. Vividly told, Shooting for Tiger examines the real costs of professionalizing young players and offers an unforgettable portrait of athletic obsession.