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Michael Lerner
English 115
Professor Lawson
7 December 2015
Rhetorical Analysis
538 words
The Rise of Tiger Woods
When we think of heroes, we think of people who are admired for their courage,
outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Soldiers, police officers, and firefighters are
often seen as heroes in our everyday lives. Also, athletes can be seen as heroes as well. In
the essay Tiger Time: The Wonders of an American Hero, author Jay Nordlinger writes
about how Tiger Woods embraces being a hero both in the game of golf and in society.
Tiger Woods has always been known as one of the best golfers of all time. Bill
Strausbaugh, Jr., one of the greatest teachers in PGA history, said that Tiger has three
things: a great golf motion, a great golf mind, and a great golf body. His name has been
compared to some of the all-time greats, including the 18-time major champion, Jack
Nicklaus. Back in the day, Nicklaus dominated the sport and no one thought that anyone
would be as dominant as him in the future. But when Woods came along, everything
started to change.
Nordlinger lists Woods' unimaginable achievements in his amateur and pro career
to claim that he is a legend of the game of golf. During his amateur career, Woods won
three straight U.S. Junior Championships at the age of fifteen and three straight U.S.
Amateur Championships at the age of eighteen. After his astonishing amateur career, he

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turned pro and kept on winning golf tournaments. Before the age of 26, Tiger Woods had
won 27 tournaments, including six majors. At one point in his career, he won six PGA
events in a row. Woods won the Masters by twelve shots at the age of 21 in 1997 and won
the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by fifteen shots and the British at St. Andrews by eight
shots in 2000. His accomplishments in golf have distinguished him as one of the best
golfers of all time.
In his essay, Nordlinger describes how Woods is an important American hero and
how he represents different minorities. He contends that Woods is someone who accepts
and embraces his varied cultural background without overemphasizing its importance.
Woods considers himself Cablinasian, a term that means a mixture of Caucasian, black,
Indian (American Indian), and Asian. His dad is half black, a quarter Chinese, and a
quarter Indian; his mom is half Thai, a quarter Chinese, and a quarter white. As a role
model for all kids, Woods strived to make a difference in society and to change other
people's views on race.
In my opinion, I find the author's position persuasive and agree with his claims.
His use of ethos, pathos, and logos made throughout the piece helped Nordlinger make
his claims more believable. The author's thesis was supported by the reflective tone,
anecdotes, and rhetorical questions mentioned in this essay. Woods has defined all the
odds for his supporters. His impact on and off the golf course has influenced the way
people view their racial and ethnic background.

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Works Cited
Nordlinger, Jay. Tiger Time: The Wonders of an American Hero. Pop Perspectives:
Readings to Critique Contemporary Culture. Ed. Laura Gray-Rosendale. San
Francisco: McGraw-Hill, 2008. 303-308. Print.