I just got finished reading Andre Agassi's new book titled "Open" and although this is not golf related, you can compare Agassi's childhood to golf stars with overbearing parents.
The closest example I can think of when it comes to golf would be Sean O'Hair's father.
Here is a quick summary of Agassi's childhood:
- His father drove Agassi's three older siblings so hard, they all quit tennis, leaving Andre, the youngest, as the last hope in the family to become a top professional
- His father built a backyard tennis court himself
- His father had a specially made tennis ball machine shoot balls at 110 miles per hour to Andre, who was age 7
- Starting at age 7, his father made him hit 2500 balls a day because it would equal out to approximately 1 million balls per year
- Agassi was a phenom, betting against adults and winning money as a kid
- At age 9, Agassi won a bet against Jim Brown, beating him 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Agassi's father tried to make the bet 10k in cash, his entire savings, before Brown changed the bet to $500
- Agassi was sent to Bollettieri tennis academy at age 12, which he hated with a passion
- Agassi dropped out of school in 9th grade and turned pro at age 16
Great read. Highly recommended for sports fans.
