The tragedy of this man's life starts with his father's domination of him before he was even 2 years old. I speak from experience -- having had a "stage mother" who was determined to make me a child movie star -- ballet lessons that deformed my feet from toe dancing, performing at every school, club, and social event she could enter me during my entire childhood. So, I know what Earl was doing to his child because I have been there.
Children do what their parents want from them in order to (1) please them and (2) because they are virtually dependent on them for food and shelter. But a lot of the "interviewees" got in wrong in this "Tiger" series: You are watching child abuse and its results. The father's obsession stunted the child's development. Tiger had no childhood. He was taught to do tricks for the audience. Like a trained dog or seal. To perform. That's not good parenting -- it's child abuse.
Note: I thought Ms. Uchitel's altered lips were going to explode on camera. She thinks this series makes her famous again; it makes her infamous. She doesn't know the difference.