Part 1 of HBO’s Tiger Woods documentary “Tiger” drew 639,000 viewers across all platforms on Sunday.
This is not incredible, but it is better than normal. The total of 639,000 viewers marks the best performance for an HBO Sports doc since Bill Simmons’ “Andre the Giant” appeared through the curtain in 2018.
The “Tiger” count includes all platforms – so yes, streaming is counted here – and a TV encore. An HBO spokesman estimated that there were “about 15” HBO Sports titles in the genre between the two documents.
Part 2 of “Tiger” debuts next Sunday on HBO and HBO Max. Like the debut of Part 1, he will face a competition as fierce as possible in the form of the NFL prime time playoffs.
Read too: ‘Tiger’ directors in the powerful opening scene of the documentary that almost didn’t happen
The two-part doctor “Tiger” from HBO is moved (this is a golf pun, got it?) By images never seen before and revealing interviews with those who were close to Woods, including his former caddy and close friend Steve Williams; friend and biographer of father Earl Woods, Pete McDaniel; Tiger’s first love, Dina Parr; and Rachel Uchitel, the woman at the center of the sex scandal that forever changed Woods’ world.
“Tiger” comes from HBO Sports and Jigsaw Productions in association with Our Time Projects, and features Uchitel’s first interview about his relationship with Woods. Alex Gibney was the executive producer of “Tiger” alongside Sam Pollard, Stacey Offman, Richard Perello, Armen Keteyian and Jeff Benedict. Matthew Heineman and Matt Hamachek directed the documentary.
Read TheWrap’s previous interview with Heineman and Hamachek here.
In our conversation, the boys analyzed the excellent opening scene of Part 1, in which Eldrick “Tiger” Woods’ father Earl speaks enthusiastically about his son at the Haskins Collegiate Awards Banquet. That moment captured on VHS is mixed with even older images, like a childhood tiger that ensures that “daddy” just sees his glowing iron shot from the field. Earl’s audio continues with Woods’ victory at The Masters and is finally placed on top of footage from the Tiger prison police station in 2017 by DUI.
“Tiger: Part 2” opens next Sunday at 9 pm on HBO and HBO Max.