Thoughtful . . . Readers will find fascinating gems . . . Mr. Bamberger goes out of his way to be fair, clearly distinguishing between what we can know and what we will probably never know. His speculations about the private Woods, always labeled as such, are informed by his more than three decades of golf reporting and five previous books about golf, including one about caddying for a tour pro. He knows the world of professional golf, and the pressures it exacts, like few others.
-John Paul Newport, The Wall Street Journal
A sensational read . . . [Bamberger is] an outstanding reporter. . . . The number of insights, stories and well-labeled legends of hazy lineage are all presented in Bamberger's inimitable style . . . The ride is filled with plenty of stellar anecdotes for lovers of all things golf. . . . Since we have no 2020 Masters to watch, reliving everything leading up to Tiger's fifth title is well worth the ride, even if the road was bumpier than we'd prefer to recall.
-Geoff Shackelford
Insightful and entertaining . . . When it comes to golf writing, Michael Bamberger is akin to a feel player. The longtime Sports Illustrated and current Golf Magazine scribe relies on a keen eye for detail, instincts developed over decades around the game and innate writing gifts.
-Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel
Love Tiger Woods? Loathe him? There's something in this book for everyone. . . . Bamberger is unafraid to look into some of the darker corners of Woods' life, including his rumored PED use. The book ends on a high note, though, with Woods' unforgettable win in last year's Masters Tournament. Bamberger's writing style is easygoing and loose-limbed, as smooth and natural-feeling as Freddie Couples' swing.
-Monte Burke, Forbes
Reading The Second Life of Tiger Woods is like playing a great golf course without prior knowledge of the holes that lie ahead. You know they're going to be good, and in the end, they add up to something special. To the extent that it's possible to know what's in Tiger's mind, Bamberger delivers. . . . A terrific book.
-Gary D'Amato, Wisconsin Golf
A fantastic book . . . Bamberger takes a look at Woods' recent years with a discerning but empathetic eye and teaches us new ways to see his most recent journey.
-Dylan Dethier, Golf.com
This may be the most insightful and evenhanded book written yet about one of the signature athletes of the last twenty-five years.
-Booklist (starred review)
Gripping . . . Even non-Tiger fans might find this amazing comeback story appealing.
-Kirkus Reviews
Michael Bamberger is the quiet man of golf journalism. He arrives at scenes, a notebook stuck in his back pocket; he watches, listens, writes and then departs. Players talk to him and he stores it away and the reader should be grateful that he does because there is so much in this book that most people don't know about Woods, about golf, about the pro game in the US, about Woods's victory in last year's Masters. Bamberger has a painter's eye for detail and a journalist's ear for a phrase. The story he tells so elegantly here is packed with detail.
-The Times (London)
With compassion and honesty, this book enthrallingly illuminates the extraordinary yet enigmatic comeback of Tiger Woods. Bamberger is a wise and resourceful reporter with an unsurpassed knowledge of the professional game, and he moves effortlessly between inside-the-ropes stories and human insight. I raced through this book joyfully, in about the time it takes to play a round of golf.
-Joseph O'Neill, author of Netherland
The consummate Tour insider . . . Bamberger has written a thoughtful, conscientious, and s