For the average golf nut, it does not get much better than Masters' weekend. Golf fanatics have something else to focus on too: The Big Miss, the long awaited tell all-book by Texas golf instructor Hank Haney detailing his six years as Tiger Woods’ coach was published opportunistically enough last week.

The book is attracting lots of attention as Woods, seeking to win his first major in four years, struggles around Augusta National. While most of the headlines about the book have centered on the salacious details — Tiger wanted to quit golf to become a Navy SEAL, Tiger didn’t want Elin smiling on the golf course, Tiger didn’t offer Hank a popsicle — there are actually some interesting parts of the book for the serious golfer.

Haney goes into quite a bit of detail that only the true golfer would appreciate about how he transformed Tiger’s swing plane from the upright swing Butch Harmon taught him to a flatter swing plane. Haney believed the flatter swing plane would allow Woods to have more control over his ball flight hence avoiding “the big miss” — that wayward shot that can kill an otherwise winning round or tournament.

But sadly, the book doesn’t have enough golf technique to appeal to The Golf Channel addicts and not enough titillation to appeal to fans of TMZ. And many in the golf community have roundly criticized Haney for violating golf’s supposedly teacher-student confidential relationship (the teacher shouldn’t disclose what the student says or does), which many did not know existed prior to this book.

So for those who can’t bring themselves to buy the book, here are five things that you haven’t read in other reviews:

1. Everyone is afraid of Tiger and spends time placating him. From his trainer to his manager and even Haney, everyone is afraid of Tiger’s wrath. Tiger is apparently a moody sort and when he is not pleased with something or someone he goes silent. Tiger’s long-time trainer Keith Kleven lived in fear of losing his job because he perceived that Tiger was mad at him. Haney himself couches his emails to Tiger with throwaway phrases like “I thought your attitude on the golf course was incredibly good. You were so great with the fans . . .”
2. Tiger doesn’t have meaningful conversations — at least with Haney. Even though Haney stayed in Tiger’s home many nights, once they were off the golf course conversation was limited to sports talk. Even when Haney confided in Tiger about problems in his life, the most he would get would be “that’s a tough one.” Yet Tiger told people Hank was one of his best friends. Haney, like Woods then-caddy Steve Williams, claims total shock at learning Tiger had a secret life of mistresses.
3. Tiger has a sense of humor. When the US team was preparing for the Ryder Cup, coach Tom Lehman asked the team to share rooms and assigned Tiger to room with devoutly Christian golfer Zach Johnson who publicly professes his beliefs to everyone within earshot or with a microphone. Woods immediately purchased the 24/7 adult movie channel and left the TV on fulltime. The description of Johnson trying to avert his eyes from the TV while not saying a word to Tiger was hilarious. “I got him pretty good,” Tiger recounted to Haney.
4. Golf teachers don’t make a lot of money just from giving lessons. Haney was only paid $50,000 a year for an average of 100 days a year working with Tiger. He did receive bonuses for wins, but there was not a day in the early years where Haney was not on the phone, emailing or flying to Orlando to work with Tiger. He even taught Tiger’s then-wife Elin to play golf, saying she was a good athlete, scored in the 90s, and was highly competitive. I’ll bet a lot of wealthy golfers would pony up that kind of dough for a well-known golf teacher, and not get the same time and attention. But the fringe benefits of being Woods' coach are a handsome reward: TV contracts, book deals, and quite probably a movie. Or put simply, as they say, “priceless.”
5. Golf pros have fragile egos too. Haney doesn’t say exactly why he decided to quit his position with Woods. It doesn’t seem to be the affairs though you can read Haney dying a million deaths inside when Woods says his wife wants him to give up golf for two years as a condition of saving his marriage. Nor does it seem to be the work demands, as Haney alludes to a divorce and illness of a prior wife. No doubt Haney had gotten tired of the silent treatment that the recipient of Woods ire receives. No doubt Haney was beginning to fall out of the loop as he spoke with Tiger less and less. But the telling moment was in an email Hank sends Tiger where he says that Tiger doesn’t defend him when Johnny Miller suggests Tiger go back to the Butch Harmon swing. Tiger replies that “you take criticism of my game way too seriously." Hank replies that it is time for Tiger to find a new coach. And if the reader is left wondering about Haney’s ego, the last chapter of the book is devoted to how many tournaments Tiger won under Haney’s tutelage compared to Harmon's.

In a strange way I really enjoyed the book. Haney comes across as never giving less than 100 percent to Woods in what is a very dysfunctional working environment. I want to know what makes a winner, be it in golf or the executive suite.

Perhaps to be a champion like Tiger, you have to keep your own counsel and be selfish. And just because you can do one thing really, really well — better than anyone else — may not mean other, non-athletic skills are as equally developed.