Seven Days in Augusta

Overview

A celebration of what makes the Masters singular and iconic

The Masters is unquestionably the crown jewel of golf's major tournaments, not only for the transcendent performances it has inspired over the years, but for the incomparable sights and sounds of Augusta National and its environs, each distinct element contributing to the storied, rarefied atmosphere which draws tens of thousands to Georgia each spring.Seven Days in Augusta spans everything from the par-3 contest, to Amen Corner, to Butler Cabin. Mark Cannizzaro goes behind the scenes of the exclusive competition, covering wide-ranging topics including green jacket rituals, tales from The Crow's Nest atop the clubhouse, the extreme lengths some fans have gone to acquire tickets, and what goes on outside the gates during Masters week. Also featuring some of the most memorable and dramatic moments from the tournament's history, this is an essential, expansive look at golf's favorite event.

Reviews

"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." —Booklist

"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." —Publishers Weekly

Author Biography

Mark Cannizzaro is a native of Fairfield, Connecticut, and a graduate of Ithaca College, where he competed on its Division III soccer and tennis teams. He is a columnist at the New York Post, where he's worked since 1994 and has covered more than 100 major championships, including 25 Masters Tournaments and every Ryder Cup since 1997. He is a golf addict whose finest accomplishment as a player was winning $10 from Phil Mickelson in a putting contest on Mickelson's backyard putting green. He lives in Highlands, New Jersey, and Manhattan with his wife, Carolyn Waters. Phil Mickelson is a Hall of Fame golfer who was won five major championships: three Masters titles, a PGA Championship, and an Open Championship.