Review
Curt Sampson follows his exceptional biography of Ben Hogan with another sweeping exploration of one of golf’s icier hearts: Augusta National and the powers behind the Masters. A combination of history, sociology, and good old sports writing, The Masters counterpoints a rich, white institution with the town surrounding it that is anything but. Ultimately, the book tells the story of a singular sporting experience–and the marvelous drama it has provided–that manages to succeed spectacularly despite the arrogance, dourness, and manipulations of the homogenous bastion that deigns to let the rest of the world intrude upon its exclusiveness for one week every April.
–This text refers to an out of prin [Read More...]
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June 3rd, 2010 at 7:01 pm
If Sampson’s probe is anywhere near the truth, it surely smudges the high place we give to Augusta and The Masters.
Certainly, it still revolves around Jones, and it always has. The legend of this amateur and supposed gentleman is tarnished by his association with Roberts and his seizure of power and control of what has become golfing legend.
Without the champion’s name and backing and tournament, The Masters and Augusta would be just another club and tour stop. But from the outset it was Bobby who kept it together. Then the illness and pulling away, and the inroads of Cliff and the rest is history, here well documented by one of the great golf writers. Sampson again weaves his literary magic with different piercing vignettes of the personalities and events which have led to Augusta lore and legend.
Story upon story from various facets permeate this fluid read–from club caddie to townfolk to neglected member and player — one is given much to contemplate.
The tales are superb, sampling but a few: the caddie deliberately overclubbing Robert’s opponent on a Par 3 course contest; Dave Marr’s respone to Arnie that even his divot cleared Rae’s Creek on 15; the asst. pro’s wife being offered big money for the rope marker that only quandred off souvenir sales.
Augusta appears to be the premier “ole boys” club. If you want scoop about it’s past and insights possibly into its present, this read will begin that path.