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Many viewers who tuned into the first episode of “Tiger,” HBO’s probing documentary about his rise to golfing greatness, his dramatic fall from grace and his more hopeful future, likely had one question: Did Tiger Woods watch?
The filmmakers behind the series, the second and final installment of which runs Sunday, seriously doubt that Woods caught the premiere or that he’ll be tuning in to Part 2, which covers the disastrous personal and professional fallout after tabloid revelations of several extramarital affairs and a series of crushing injuries that derailed his meteoric momentum.
For the record:
12:18 PM, Jan. 14, 2021An earlier version of this story transposed several quotes attributed to Matthew Heineman with those attributed to his “Tiger” co-director Matthew Hamachek.
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NEW YORK, Jan 14, (Agencies): For a man who first appeared on television when he was 2, showing Bob Hope how he could already swat golf balls, the public actually knows little about Tiger Woods. Getting behind carefully-constructed walls was the challenge faced by filmmakers Matthew Hamachek and Matthew Heineman, whose two-part HBO documentary “Tiger” premiered last Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern.
This image released by HBO shows art for ‘Tiger,’ a two-part documentary about golfer Tiger Woods premiered Jan 10. (AP) Even without their subject’s cooperation, the men created a fascinating portrait of a champion driven relentlessly to success. Neither filmmaker is a big golf fan. Hamachek traces his interest in Woods to the disastrous Thanksgiving night in 2009 when a car accident led to the unraveling of the golfer’s marriage and discovery of his secret life with other women. He recalled thinking about how he knew nothing about a man who was instantly recognizable.
‘Tiger’ Tees Off as HBO’s Most-Watched Sports Doc in 2 Years
Part 1 of two-part documentary draws most viewers in the genre since Bill Simmons’ “Andre the Giant”Tony Maglio | January 12, 2021 @ 1:26 PM Last Updated: January 12, 2021 @ 2:05 PM
HBO
Part 1 of HBO’s Tiger Woods documentary, “Tiger,” hooked 639,000 total viewers across all platforms on Sunday.
That’s not amazing, but it is better than par for the course. The 639,000 total viewers mark the best performance for an HBO Sports doc since Bill Simmons’ “Andre the Giant” walked through the curtain back in April 2018.
The “Tiger” tally includes all platforms so yes, streaming is counted here and a TV encore. A spokesperson for HBO estimated there have been “about 15” HBO Sports titles in the genre between the two docs.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
American golfer Tiger Woods in action on the final day of the U.S. Masters at Augusta, Georgia, April 13, 1997. Woods went on to win the tournament with a record low score of 18 under par. (David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images/TNS)
Commentary: The myth of Tigermania has lasted 25 years. HBO’s new doc takes a swing at it
Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times
If you’re a golf fan, at least, you’ve seen it before.
Tiger Woods at age 2, swinging a golf club for Bob Hope on “The Mike Douglas Show.” At 18, punctuating his go-ahead birdie in the 1994 U.S. Amateur with that now-iconic fist pump. At 20, announcing his decision to turn professional and presaging Nike’s advertising slogan with the phrase “Hello world.” At 21, bringing Augusta National to its knees and the culture to a standstill with his first victory at the Masters.