Power Golf

The Masters golf tournament weaves a hypnotic spell. It is the toughest ticket in sports, with black-market tickets selling for $10,000 and more. Success at Augusta National breeds legends, while failure can overshadow even the most brilliant of careers. But as Curt Sampson reveals in The Masters, a cold heart beats behind the warm antebellum facade of this famous Augusta course.

When Steve Friedman was a child growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis, the game of golf was, to him, mysterious and dark. His father’s passion for it caused friction in his marriage and eluded the interest of his youngest son, who was devoted instead to basketball. For that and many other reasons, the two failed to bond, ultimately leading to an awkward and unhappy relationship. But Friedman never forgot the love his father had for golf, and after many years, when he was in his 40s, he reached out and asked his dad to teach him the game.

Famous, successful golfers including Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tiger Woods are aware that golf isn't an almost mindless sport; golfing enthusiasts worldwide and participants of minor and major golf tournaments can agree. It requires skill and mentality - regardless of the common misconception that to play a round or two, all it takes is securing top-of-the-line golf balls, golf clubs, tees, and other equipment, and finding a great golf course.