Before Elin was Tiger's wife, the ex-nanny was a bikini model. We asked Victoria's Secret's Tori Praver for tips on landing a bombshell.
Approaching a model would be the scariest part, so rate these pickup lines on a scale of 1-10, from cheesy to charming. "Are you from Tennessee, because you're the only 10 I see." Oh, man. That's a 1.
"Your hair and my pillow are perfectly color coordinated." [Laughs.] I'll give it a 2.
"Is your father a mechanic, because you've got one finely tuned body?" Minus-12! Here's one I just heard: "Your legs must be tired because you've been running through my mind all night." Cheesy lines do not work. They're fake. Girls want a guy who's real and genuine. When approaching a beautiful woman, a simple, confident "Hi" is fine.
That's all it takes? It helps to set yourself apart. Models are used to hearing, "You're so beautiful." So be creative. Say, if you're in a bar and you see a gorgeous girl, you could write out tic-tactoe lines on a napkin, write an "X" and "It's your move," and have a waitress send it over. That would get a girl's attention because it's playful and unusual.
LOOKING THE PART
We asked Paul Ekman, a facial expression expert at University of California-San Francisco, to analyze Tiger's game face.
What's going on in Tiger's face? "I call this a look of intense intention, but there's also intense concentration and determination. All three show the same signs in the face. The eyes are extremely focused, they're wide open, and there's little else in his face because the eyes dominate."
How would this look help him beat his opponents before he even hits a shot? "What's intimidating to his opponents is that he's so totally focused and determined about what he wants. No distraction, no humor, no relaxation."
Can you affect Tiger's game face? "You can't simulate that look. You have to become intensely concentrated and determined and then the look will emerge. It's all in the mind; just think of what's happening and what you need to do at the very moment, not what happened before or what could happen after."
HOW TO BE TOUGH TO BEAT
Nobody in the game is more mentally intimidating than Tiger. Here's how he learned to focus — and how you can, too.
Earl Woods would deliberately throw tees in front of his son while he was swinging, or he'd jingle change in his backswing. It made Tiger angry, but it was great training for concentration.
Drill on the course
Our resident golf psychologist, Dick Coop, Ph.D., offers this practice situation to simulate what Earl did for Tiger:
Play a game called two ball-worst ball. Hit two shots every time and play your worst one. So if you make a 30-foot putt, it doesn't count until you play it again and hole the second attempt, too. This drill creates frustration and tension, and it's a fantastic way to create the sort of tension that requires the most from your ability to focus.
TIGER II
Okay, you did all the work and here you are! You've become Tiger Woods! Now let Tiger impersonator Mark Taborn (an actor and 22 handicap) tell you how to deal with your newfound celebrity, and what to do when...
...you get bombarded for autographs: Set a time limit for how long you're willing to spend signing and tell your security. They'll time you and pull you away when the limit's up. That way you don't look like the bad guy.
...the paparazzi are following: Goofy outfits and disguises are too recognizable. You've got to trick them. For example, when you leave your house, you and a friend should go in two cars and they won't know which one to follow.
...you shake hands: I give the guys a nice, firm handshake but the women always want a hug. Kids love high-fives and I'll bend down on one knee to meet the shy kids.
...you get asked these questions:
Tiger, are you going to win the Grand Slam in 2007? I hope so. I plan on being focused and having my game ready.
Tiger, what's the real story with you and Phil? We compete against each other in a competitive game but I leave the game on the course when I'm not playing. We're good buddies.
Tiger, can I have your golf clubs? Sure, you can have these and I'll get new ones.
Tiger, will you play with me in my member-guest? I'd love to but it depends on my schedule. Check with my agent and if I'm available it's a possibility.
