The 1986 Masters has been written about so often it’s hard to imagine there’s anything left to be revealed however John Boyette, sports editor of the Augusta Chronicle, has accomplished that feat.
“The 1986 Masters: How Jack Nicklaus Roared Back to Win” is out just in time for this year’s playing of the golf’s first major and of course it is been 25 years since the Golden Bear, or Olden Bear as some called him, accomplished the most memorable win of his career, his sixth Masters.
Though not a knockout job of writing (its fine just not “the best I’ve ever read”) there are two really interesting features of the book after you get through the pre-forward which is an interview with Nicklaus. The middle section is a shot by shot accounting of Nicklaus’ final round illustrated with diagrams of all 18 holes. Though the drawings cannot give a sense of Augusta National’s elevation changes nor the slopes and speed of the greens they are very useful to understanding the magnitude of his accomplishment as his “roared home” with a 30 on the back nine.
The 50 photographs in the book came from the Augusta Chronicle and therefore are presumably new to all but those who read that newspaper. Also of interest are small side stories such as the monster-sized putter Nicklaus used, the Macgregor Response ZT that became an overnight sensation for the company formerly owned by Nicklaus. Unbelievably they sold 125,000 putters during the following year.
It certainly worth purchasing “The 1986 Masters” if for not other reason than to get yourself primed for next week’s 2011 rendition.
“The 1986 Masters: How Jack Nicklaus Roared Back to Win”
John Boyette
Lyons Press, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press
176 pages, 50 photos, includes a pre-forward and index
$24.95 Hard Cover
About Ed Travis
Related posts:
- Tom Watson Still A Class Act after 37 years
- Segregansett Country Club A Players Club For over 100 years
- Jack
- THe Masters 2010 3.5 Million Raised for Charity
- New Putters At This Years PGA Show
