Born to a father who described him as the “chosen one” and a mother who called him the “universal child,” Tiger Woods was groomed for the fame and influence that his parents believed was his destiny. At age twenty, he made his debut in a Nike commercial. “Hello, world,” he said. “Are you ready for me?”

The world was ready.

For the next thirteen years, Tiger nearly lived up to his parents' outsized expectations. He conquered the world of golf, settled down with a beautiful Swedish model, and started a family. His net worth approached one billion dollars. Everything was going according to plan—until the scandal hit.

Steve Helling has long covered Tiger Woods's career, and here he draws on intimate sources— many speaking out for the first time—to create a never-before-seen portrait of the golfer.