by Glenn Magas

Created on: September 10, 2009   Last Updated: December 18, 2009

"Take your best shot"

Tiger closed his deep blue eyes before he pulled the trigger. His 9-year old fingers could barely wrap itself around the pistol's grip. But he pointed it straight, aimed, and BANG - shot.

At the ripe age of two years old, Tiger Alfonso Hosseini hit his first golf ball. Tiger's father named him after the greatest golfer in the world, Tiger Woods, and hoped that he would eventually become the next, well, "Tiger". His life dripped with potential. Before Tiger would hit a ball, his father would always say, "Take your best shot!"

He and his father, Amir, would play golf inside the house, on the front lawn, in the snow and on occasion, Amir would sneak Tiger on to the beautiful rolling hills of golf courses in Florida. Tiger would enjoy those cart rides and he enjoyed chipping and putting on the greens that seemed to stretch forever.

He especially loved hearing his father cheer when he hit the ball well. He loved when his father would scoop him up after he holed a forty-foot putt. He loved playing golf with his father. His father would always say, "Think positive. Think good thoughts. Think you are the best and you will be!" Tiger would repeat those words every day.

He spent every moment he could with his dad. He loved his father.

Tiger only saw his father treat his mommy like a princess. And in turn, Tiger looked up to his mom and treated her the same way. He was more in love with his mom than any man could ever be.

But, that all changed a year ago.

Amir left home two weeks after Tiger's 9th birthday.

Tiger heard the yells from downstairs. His father was pleading. Desperate. Mad. And when Amir was mad, everyone knew it. He had a temper that would send fear to anyone - and if he gazed at you in that way he did, you knew to keep your mouth shut and go away.

But he never got mad or raised his voice toward Tiger or his mom, Stephanie. It was always those, 'inconsiderate, ignorant, jerks' on the freeway. Or that man who'd call asking about collecting something and the 'vig' running it up or something like that. Tiger thought the man's name was Boogie. But why would Amir always refer to him as 'My Boogie'? Tiger wasn't allowed to play with Amir's cell phone after that. "When my Boogie calls, I don't want you talking to him. It's very important business my little Tiger."

That night, when he heard the yells, he looked downstairs and watched his father on his knees with his hands over his face, crying desperately. Stephanie stood, her arms crossed, her face

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