Preface and foreword (前言和序言)

Preface

When Tiger Woods signed an exclusive agreement to write instruction articles for Golf Digest in June 1997, there was elation on the part of the editors, and one concern: Was Tiger’s knowledge of the golf swing broad and sophisticated enough to convey advice that would help the average golfer improve? Tiger was 21 year old, an age when most players “hit’em and hunt’em” without much regard to swing mechanics or strategy. There was no denying his talent as a player—he had won the Maters Tournament just two mouth previous – but our expectations of Tiger the author/teacher were modest to say the least.

伍兹在1997年6月与《高尔夫大师》独家签订了为杂志撰写教学文章的协议。小编们很是自得，也不乏有人担心，伍兹的挥杆知识是否专业和老道到足以给业余高尔夫球手以指导？21岁的年纪，对于大多数球手来说，还处于挥杆的挣扎阶段，而伍兹却已经上升到力学和技巧的使用了。这不是质疑他的天分，因为那时，他刚赢得二个月前的美国大师赛，但小编提出这样的质疑也是情理之中。

Like the rest of the world, we underestimated Tiger. The first research session with him was a revelation. His grasp of the fundamental was complete. His understanding of cause and effect in the full swing was astonishing and would grow even richer through time. What’s more, his explanations were expansive, articulate and ordered perfectly. He quickly displayed a knack for in a way that embraced the widest range of golfers possible.

经过第一阶段的跟踪式研究，我们明白我们低估了伍兹，他完全掌握了挥杆的原理，他对于挥杆的因与果的理解非常深入，而且还在不断地完善，更让人惊讶的是，他的教学文章深入浅出，清晰而条理分明，这使得他的教学指导被广大的球手和高尔夫爱好者所接受。

The sum of what Tiger about golf is presented in this book. Happy for the reader, Tiger’s knowledge has increased over time and extends well beyond his contributions to Golf Digest. Tiger’s new commitments to physical conditioning, diet, sport psychology and insight into being to tougher competitor are presented here for the first time.

本书涵盖了伍兹对高尔夫的理解，这些理解比他给杂志写教学文章时又更进了一步，包括了伍兹关于体能训练，饮食，运动心理学方面的建议，并且第一次坦露心迹：如何成为一个强硬的对手。

Despite Tiger’s eagerness to assist the everyday golfer, the title of this book is How I Play Golf. Take note of the “I”. Tiger insisted at the outset that he focus on what’s right for him. Yet, you’ll find his methods are sound and far-reaching. When Tiger discourses on the fine points of how he drives the ball 350 yards, you can take comfort knowing that the advice will assist you in your quest for more distance.

书的题目是“我如何打高尔夫”，但是伍兹热心于为普通球友提供帮助，伍兹强调他从一开始就专注于做正确的事，读者会在阅读过程中发现，伍兹的方法是非常值得借鉴和有意义的。当伍兹谈到他是如何达到350码的发球距离时，希望突破距离瓶颈的读者也会从中得到有益的启发的。

At age 25, Tiger has achieved an all-encompassing command of himself, his sport and the world that surrounds it. We hope you enjoying this insight on every facet of the game from the greatest player of his time.

Foreword

At the 2001 Masters I witnessed Tiger’s complete metamorphosis that culminated in a record-setting run of four consecutive major championship victories. His historic accomplishment, inconceivable just two years before, was awesome to behold. Words cannot describe the pleasure and pride I felt when he came into my arm as he walked off the 18^th green that Sunday afternoon, the sun sinking behind those huge pine trees. Four years earlier it was a similar scene after Tiger won his initial Masters during his first full year on tour. This time was different. This time I embraced a grown-up who had tried on the title of best in the world and found it a perfect fit. I said to him, “You pulled it off. Now you really are in the history books. I love you.”

2001年的美国大师赛，我见证了伍兹载入史册的四大满贯的巅峰胜利。这不可思议的名垂史册的成就，在两年前是不敢想的。当他在那个周日下午完成十八洞离开果岭向我走来，我们拥抱在一起的时候，巨大的松树间，阳光在闪耀，没有一种语言能表达我当时的快乐和自豪。四年前当他第一次赢得美国大师赛是在他转职业的第一年，也是同样的场景，但这一次不同了，他成熟了，他理所当然地成了世界第一。我对他说：“孩子你成功了，历史不会忘记这一刻，我爱你。”

This journey began in the high chair in my garage in Cypress, Calif, where a six-mouth-old baby watched intently as his father hit balls into a net. Amazingly, he had an attention span of two hours. From the beginning, Tiger had a beautiful, fundamentally golf swing. There was just one problem: he was left-handed. It took him two weeks to discover that I was on the other side of the ball. In the middle of a swing, he stopped, walked around on the other side of the ball, changed to right-handed grip and proceeded to hit the ball into net perfectly swing right-handed. I witnessed it and still can’t believe it.

加利福尼亚，塞浦路斯，我的车库，当我六个月大的孩子伍兹在婴儿车中目不转睛地看着我把球打向网那时起，他的高尔夫就起步了，他能两个小时看着我打球而不厌烦。伍兹的挥杆很地道很漂亮，握杆后的两个星期，他发现自己有些不一样，他是左撇子。于是在一次挥杆中，他停了下来，杆放到了球的另一边，他改成右手握法，一击漂亮的挥杆，球向网飞去，我看着这一切，至今不敢相信自己的眼睛。

His swing developed as he grew old. When Tiger was a teenager it was long, loose and relatively flat. Then he went through a growth spurt and his instructor, John Anselmo, changed his swing plane to more upright to prevent him developing “hookitis” that characterized the early days of Hogan. This swing prevailed through junior and amateur golf. But I knew it had flaws that would have to be corrected. After being eliminated in match play at the 1993 U.S. Amateur at The Champions in Houston, Tiger was reviewed and evaluated but Butch Harmon. Tiger hit a few balls for Butch, who made a startling statement. “Tiger,” he said, “Greg Norman had a great pair of hands, but you have the greatest hands I have ever seen.” He immediately had Tiger’s attention. He then told him, “I’ll bet on the downswing, just before impact, you sense whether the club is opened or closed and you make an adjustment with your hands”. Tiger said, “Yes, I do”. Butch told him they would eliminate that problem by making Tiger’s swing plane more consistent to permit the club to come into the hitting area square. Tiger would then be able to use his hands to work the ball. I moved to the edge of the range and watched them work. It was the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

伍兹渐渐长大，他的挥杆模式在不断变化，孩子时，挥杆扁扁长长而松垮的。长高了后，他的教练约翰-阿索默建议他的挥杆平面陡直一些，以避免本侯根式的 ‘HOOK’，这种挥杆方式当时在青少年和业余球手中很盛行。但是，我不太认可。1993年在休斯敦的业余锦标赛比洞赛中伍兹被淘汰了，这时，伍兹遇到了布奇哈蒙。打了几个球后，哈蒙对伍兹作出了令人惊诧的评价：伍兹，如果说格雷格.诺曼的双手是奇妙的，那么你的双手是无与匹敌的。这话立刻让伍兹产生了兴趣。哈蒙接着说：我敢说在下杆击球的瞬间，你的双手是能觉察到杆面是否方正，并且作出调整的。伍兹肯定了这一点。布奇说，他可以帮助伍兹通过调整而获得稳定的挥杆平面来达到杆面方正击球。我走到练习场的边上，看着他们的谈话，他们之间就此开始了奇妙的合作。

All along, Tiger has been a keen student of the game, displaying tenacity, courage and heart. When he was eight, I told him that he had that extra gear that all great athletes display that he could call upon it at any time. He knew that I was talking about because we had discussed this while watching players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar perform their best under pressure. Tiger demonstrated that same ability very early in his development. Setting records at every level of participation, he established a standard of excellence for aspiring golfers. At each level he had the added responsibility of being a minority. Watching him perform under difficult circumstances was inspiring.

伍兹是一个非常好学的学生，执着，坚定有毅力。他八岁的时候，我告诉他，他有着伟大的运动员所具有的品性，这些品性能在比赛中需要的时候，支持自己。他知道我在说什么，在观看那些伟大的篮球运动员在压力之下的表现时，我们有过这些讨论。伍兹在很小的时候就展示了这一品性，每一个年龄阶段都表现非凡，他具有一个有志向的球手所具有的优秀品质，他总是表现优异，看到他处理困局的能力着实让人鼓舞。

Tiger has been a teacher his entire life. I know he has taught me things. The exhibitions he staged for inner-city youth as a teenager have evolved into orchestrated clinics under the auspices of the Tiger Woods foundation. Just like Tiger, they are competitive in nature, in that each city must submit a proposal to obtain Tiger’s services. At his insistence, these clinics are not just ball-striking exhibition. They present unique history of the game along with its rules and job opportunities. He is a living example of his family’s credo of care and share. I hope this work of love will unlock the door to a wonderful game for those who share in his passion for it. Within its pages you will find wisdom, guidance, technical tips and pure instruction. Listen to Tiger’s heart. It is speaking to you. I trust that you will get the message.

伍兹一直是自己的老师，他也是我的老师。伍兹基金会支持并由伍兹筹划的针对城市平民区青少年的展示会已经逐渐发展成系统化的专门机构，那些孩子们像小伍兹一样，他们都渴望胜利，每个城市都要提交一份方案来争取得到伍兹基金会的支持。在他的坚持下，这些机构已经不是单纯的击球展示了，还同时展示这项运动的独特历史和规则，也为城市提供了就业机会。他执着于家族关爱和分享的信条，我希望这本书能打开与伍兹一样对高尔夫有着热情的球友们通向精彩球生的大门，书中不仅仅是单纯的挥杆教学，还有引导，技术窍门，更有智慧在其中，那些都是伍兹对每一个读者发出的心声，我相信，你肯定能听到并听懂。