Seven days in Augusta Behind the scenes at the Masters

Golf fans can expect at least one new book about the Masters to arrive every year about the time the magnolias bloom in Augusta, Georgia. First off the tee this year is veteran sports journalist Cannizzaro's behind-the-scenes take on covering the tournament for the last 25 years. Differentiating his approach from those of the many previous Masters books, Cannizzaro organizes his narrative around what happens each day of Masters week, from the practice rounds through the much-loved Par 3 Contest on Wednesday and the four days of the tournament itself. Along the way, Cannizzaro inevitably reprises some of the tournament's most memorable moments, focusing on big names like Woods, Mickelson, and Norman, but this material tends to be overly familiar. What gives the book its zip are the chapters detailing people and places on the periphery of the action--the fabled oak tree, for example, situated between the clubhouse and the first tee, where golf's elite gather to "schmooze and booze," and the "unofficial 19th hole," TBonz Steakhouse, which serves 6,000 pounds of beef during Masters week. A tasty aperitif for anyone who loves the Masters.

New York Post columnist Cannizzaro (Tales from the New York Jets Sidelines) takes readers behind the scenes of the world's most famous golf tournament in this entertaining history. Arranging the book in seven parts--one for each day of the Masters--Cannizzaro surveys the breadth of the tournament, including the role the Augusta Chronicle plays in publishing interviews with the contestants, a lighthearted par three contest on Wednesday, and Sunday's donning of the green jacket. Throughout, Cannizzaro provides intense glimpses of legendary Masters moments such as Tiger Woods's 1997 victory and Phil Mickelson's 2004 breakthrough for his first major. While the recollections of such memorable victories will surely delight golf fans, the vivid imagery and descriptions of the course itself and the atmosphere surrounding--sophisticated and snobbish though it may be--leaves a lingering impression of a warm spring day in Augusta. Closing chapters touch on Tiger Woods's remarkable resurgence in the 2019 tournament, providing readers with a look at the triumph that turned "one of the world's most famous and snooty golf clubs" into something like "Yankee Stadium with fans chanting." Coming out just in time for the 2020 Masters, this fascinating behind-the-scenes account will delight many a golf aficionado. (Mar.)