Rating: 
Summary: Another Top-notch Feinstein Work
Review: If you've read "A Good Walk Spoiled," you have to follow it up with this Feinstein gem. He once again takes you inside the game like no one else can. Feinstein puts a great deal of focus on the men behind the Masters, and gives you a good idea of the pressure at the U.S. Open. You also see that most Americans who put the British Open a step below the first two majors are clearly uninformed about what major championship golf is all about. Finally, you realize that the PGA is the least important of the four majors, searching to find an identity to distinguish itself. Some of the more interesting storylines are the close detail in which Fred Couples' season was followed, the improvement in Payne Stewart's attitude, the unbelievably rock-hard nerves of U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, and the love the Brits showed Open qualifier Larry Mize. However, the most intriguing information comes from the in depth discussion of the career of David Duval. Before I read the book, I despised Duval and thought he was nothing but an arrogant jerk. However, after reading the book, I came to respect him for his no excuses attitude. Overall, I obviously recommend that anyone who follows the PGA tour read this masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: Majors Is Minor Feinstein
Review: Is a book a book because an author says it is? Or is it a book because it is about something? John Feinstein seems to take the former "I write therefore it is" approach. As a result, I never quite got what "The Majors" was about. My fault? I don't think so. I not only "got" the point of Feinstein's previous golf book, "A Good Walk Spoiled," but enjoyed it. That book belongs on any sports lover's shelf, and is worth any novice's time as well. "A Good Walk Spoiled" is about the lives and trials of the pro golfer. "The Majors," despite the title, is about much the same thing, not so much the four events that make up the biggest trophies in pro golf but the elite PGA Tour pros who compete for these titles. Frankly, if you aren't hot for golf, you aren't going to relate to these millionaires and their quest to buck the dread acronym BPNTHWAM (best player never to have won a major) the way you will to the fringe folk and dewsweepers that made up the cast of "A Good Walk Spoiled," for whom making the cut was the difference between survival and doom. There are some decent profiles here, like that of Mark O'Meara, who won two of the four majors in 1998, the year of Feinstein's narrative. O'Meara seems affable, but I got no sense of hunger from the guy. Brad Faxon offers some revealing insights, but since he didn't contend for any majors, he seemed a waste of time in the ultimate scheme of the book. A lot of golfers Feinstein profiles are like that. Meanwhile, players who did contend in 1998 majors are skimmed over, like PGA Championship winner Vijay Singh, British Open runner-up Brian Watts, and most crucially, Tiger Woods. Feinstein probably couldn't get the same level of access to these guys he could to those he dotes on, but that shouldn't be the reader's problem, should it? Unlike "A Good Walk Spoiled," the writing feels tired. The humor is forced. He throws in some clunky metaphors. A caddy "studies the wind the way a political pollster studies trends." Tiger Woods' security entourage are "like the guys chasing Butch and Sundance: You could see them coming from miles away." This makes the rote approach to the subject all the more apparent, and enervating. Feinstein seemed to be trading in on the good will he engendered on the pro circuit with "A Good Walk Spoiled." That's great, if he gives the reader something for his new access. But whereas "Good Walk" was a candid and often blunt description of what went on inside the ropes, "The Majors" seems more an exercise in puffery and back-patting, never more egregious than with Fred Couples, a decent golfer and a good guy who Feinstein blows totally out of proportion in his narrative. Couples doesn't contend except at the Masters, but Feinstein can't let go of him for more than a chapter at a time. The biggest problem about this book is it isn't about the title subject. He doesn't give equal time to the four majors, doesn't really relate any of the day-to-day drama, and offers little insight as to the courses or the final-day fields. He reports the winners, and some key shots, but that's it. If you want majors excitement, read Herbert Warren Wind or "Massacre At Winged Foot." "The Majors" won't interest people who don't care much about golf, and though it has some interesting insights that made it more than a one-star read for me, it's not something that knowledgeable golf readers are going to find that illuminating.
Rating:
Summary: Majors Is Minor Feinstein
Review: Is a book a book because an author says it is? Or is it a book because it is about something? John Feinstein seems to take the former "I write therefore it is" approach. As a result, I never quite got what "The Majors" was about. My fault? I don't think so. I not only "got" the point of Feinstein's previous golf book, "A Good Walk Spoiled," but enjoyed it. That book belongs on any sports lover's shelf, and is worth any novice's time as well. "A Good Walk Spoiled" is about the lives and trials of the pro golfer. "The Majors," despite the title, is about much the same thing, not so much the four events that make up the biggest trophies in pro golf but the elite PGA Tour pros who compete for these titles. Frankly, if you aren't hot for golf, you aren't going to relate to these millionaires and their quest to buck the dread acronym BPNTHWAM (best player never to have won a major) the way you will to the fringe folk and dewsweepers that made up the cast of "A Good Walk Spoiled," for whom making the cut was the difference between survival and doom. There are some decent profiles here, like that of Mark O'Meara, who won two of the four majors in 1998, the year of Feinstein's narrative. O'Meara seems affable, but I got no sense of hunger from the guy. Brad Faxon offers some revealing insights, but since he didn't contend for any majors, he seemed a waste of time in the ultimate scheme of the book. A lot of golfers Feinstein profiles are like that. Meanwhile, players who did contend in 1998 majors are skimmed over, like PGA Championship winner Vijay Singh, British Open runner-up Brian Watts, and most crucially, Tiger Woods. Feinstein probably couldn't get the same level of access to these guys he could to those he dotes on, but that shouldn't be the reader's problem, should it? Unlike "A Good Walk Spoiled," the writing feels tired. The humor is forced. He throws in some clunky metaphors. A caddy "studies the wind the way a political pollster studies trends." Tiger Woods' security entourage are "like the guys chasing Butch and Sundance: You could see them coming from miles away." This makes the rote approach to the subject all the more apparent, and enervating. Feinstein seemed to be trading in on the good will he engendered on the pro circuit with "A Good Walk Spoiled." That's great, if he gives the reader something for his new access. But whereas "Good Walk" was a candid and often blunt description of what went on inside the ropes, "The Majors" seems more an exercise in puffery and back-patting, never more egregious than with Fred Couples, a decent golfer and a good guy who Feinstein blows totally out of proportion in his narrative. Couples doesn't contend except at the Masters, but Feinstein can't let go of him for more than a chapter at a time. The biggest problem about this book is it isn't about the title subject. He doesn't give equal time to the four majors, doesn't really relate any of the day-to-day drama, and offers little insight as to the courses or the final-day fields. He reports the winners, and some key shots, but that's it. If you want majors excitement, read Herbert Warren Wind or "Massacre At Winged Foot." "The Majors" won't interest people who don't care much about golf, and though it has some interesting insights that made it more than a one-star read for me, it's not something that knowledgeable golf readers are going to find that illuminating.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent color, lacking in depth
Review: John Feinstein does a fine job of understanding the players thoughts and emotions. He clearly has established a trust that enables him to do that. Yet, I seriously question whether he understands his reader as well as he seems to understand the players. By definition, to read a book like this you have to be a fanatic about the game. If you are, you probably have an appreciation for the finer points and some degree of interest in the technical side of the game. I understand this is not meant to be an instructional book. But what is it after all that makes these athletes (yes they are athletes) the best in the world at what they do? While Feinstein does somewhat explore their approach to a tournament (e.g. preparation and how they think their way around the course) he is missing some depth in how they approach developing their overall game. And he seems to ignore some obvious technical questions that one must ask. For example, he describes Fred Couples as preparing for the 1998 Masters with the conviction that he could not win until he developed the draw that the course seems to dictate. Yet he never asked the obvious question about how Fred managed to win the Masters in '92 with his natural fade -- much less contend in several other Masters. Nor did he note the irony that one of the swings that contributed to his losing the tournament happened to be a hook into the trees on one of the holes (13) that mandates the coveted draw. Finally, I couldn't help but think that he was pulling some punches to save his relationships. Example: writing about the suicide death of the legendary Clifford Roberts, but never giving us any clue as to what drove the man to this end. In short, this was a good read and I always like learning about some of the interesting characters underneath their bland exteriors. I just wish Feinstein had given us a deeper view.
Rating: 
Summary: Inside The Majors
Review: John Feinstein first tackled the PGA tour with his excellent book A Good Walk Spoiled. In that book he extensively looked at the lower end of the tour, Q School, in which golfers competed to gain a Tour Card that would allow them to opportunity to play on the PGA Tour. In his latest, The Majors, he dives into the other end of the spectrum as he dissects the four tournaments that make up the Grand Slam and the elite golfers chasing the immortality of being a Majors champion. As usual, Mr. Feinstein's research is impeccable and we get some in depth information about the history of each of the tournaments, especially that of the Masters. While Tiger woods, David Duval, Phil Mickelson and other stars are profiled, the real star of the book is Mark O'Meara who won two majors in '98 after previously winning none. As he notes several times in the book, a golfer is never considered to be a truly great golfer unless he has a Majors victory on his resume. Mr. O'Meara had long been considered the best of the B's (golfers without a major) and the insight we get into his quest of a Major is superb journalism. The one negative of the book is that too often we get into the personal lives and relationships of the golfers and those sections start to read like a copy of Tiger Beat. That aside, this book is a good read and has the right balance that will appeal to both the hardcore and casual golf fan.
Rating:
Summary: A must for any fan of golf.
Review: John Feinstein has done is normal superb work in " The Majors." He is a great story teller. The author not only gives you the facts of the event that most of remember but he also gives you the stories of the men on the course and the men behind the scenes. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read, like his other books. As soon as I finished the book I went out and purchased the audio cassette so I could hear it on the way to work. Also after reading it I wanted to go back and read " A Good Walk Spoiled " all over again.
Rating:
Summary: One of Feinstein's best
Review: John Feinstein has proved in the past he is one of the finest writers of sports non-fiction. This book is right up there with some of his best. Following "A Good Walk Spoiled" was not an easy task, but Feinstein has succeeded.
Rating:
Summary: The Majors, seperating the good from the great
Review: John Feinstein has written a great piece of golf nonfiction with his new book "The Majors." The stories told in the book recount the four major tournaments of 1998, and how the players got there. Feinstein has done lots of research and this shows in his stories of golf's hardest tournaments. Feinstein also adds comments on some of golf's top players other than Tiger Woods. As an aspiring young golfer, I found their struggles to be very familier. I would recomend this book to anyone who is in love with golf. The facts in the book were amazing and reliving the unique moments of the 1998 majors helped me realize how truely special golf is.
Rating:
Summary: Not his best work, but enjoyable for the golf addict
Review: John Feinstein is a fantastic writer, and while this book is great, it is not without some flaws. He does show a lack of courage by not taking enough players to task. We're all aware that there are head cases and spoiled brats on the tour. Unfortunately Feinstein focuses on the upsides and glamorous aspects of the tour players. That being said there is no one, bar none, that gives the armchair coach a better sense of what goes on behind the scenes of collegiate and professional sports. No, it's not Tiger throwing childish temper-tantrums or players cheating on their wives, but that's ok. The book should be appreciated for what it is, not what it's not. With regards to Feinstein's other books I place this one ahead of A March to Madness, but behind the gems A Civil War, Good Walk Spoiled, and A Season On the Brink. Five stars yes, but not on a scale of 1-to-Feinstein.
Rating:
Summary: A leisurly and delightful tour of the Major championships
Review: John Feinstein reports the stories of the 1998 major golf championships through the lives of several players who were contending for one or more of them that year. The Majors are, of course, The Masters, The US Open, The Open Championship (British Open), and the PGA Championship. Saying that Mark O'Meara won The Masters and the British Open, Lee Janzen the US Open, and Vijay Singh the PGA Championship says almost nothing about the character, history, and the dynamic nature of life and competition on the PGA tour. Mr. Feinstein helps us get to know some of these players as people. We learn some things about their health, how the got to the PGA tour, how qualifying for the various majors is done (and other tournaments, for that matter). Of course, the author reports actual competitions and how the leaders changed position and finally emerged victorious. All of this is told in a rather meandering and leisurely style. If you want crisp, concise, and beginning to end reporting this book really isn't for you. However, if love golfing anecdotes and enjoy reading about golfing events, I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I learned about players I didn't know and learned more about some that I did know. Certainly, I learned more about these events we call the Majors and my enjoyment of them has been enhanced because I have read this book. Thanks to Mr. Feinstein for that favor.
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