1 comments about Nick Faldo Driven: The Definitive Biography.

1. When one thinks of Nick Faldo, one will also think of Greg Norman and the two of them together at the 1996 Masters. Faldo trailing hopelessly by 6 strokes entering the final round summoned something from deep inside which allowed him to pull off one of the great comebacks in the history of Sport. Recording 7 birdies in the final round of a Major is incredible, but when it's Sunday at the Master's, it becomes legendary. Especially when you consider that well before this victory ever took place the golfing world was in agreement that Faldo's career was over so far as winning majors was concerned.
   
   However, Faldo had overcome doubts before. Including his own. It's easy to forget and indeed it should not be dwelled upon, but Faldo very nearly achieved 3 legs of the career Grand Slam losing out in a playoff in the US Open to Curtis Strange. The reason I bring this up in not to highlight a negative for Faldo but rather to demonstrate his resilence as after that massive dissapointment Faldo would indeed redeem himself and go on to win many more Majors.
   
   Faldo endured many dissapointments through out his career, personal as well. His first marriage failed. Reading the accounts, I have always gotten the feeling that Nick was just to young to be sure of what he wanted. I don't think he ever intended to hurt any of the women that he eventually left. Indeed such is life. Men and Women are constantly changing and evolving. It shouldn't ever be a surprise when a man and woman part ways. I suppose Faldo's part in the blame is quite subjective, I won't argue with anyone. What I will say, is I believe he truly cared for each and everyone of the women he's been involved with.
   
   Nick has always seemed to be a bit of a magnet for critisizm. Well before the limelight Faldo made a bit of a pilgrimmage to the states if I remember correctly to play and learn golf in Texas. Joining him as well was the likes of Sandy Lyle. This was when they were both still amateurs. Needless to say Faldo grew quite disenchanted with the style of golf being taught as it tended to only focus on becoming a good scrambler and putter. Faldo went back home and was portrayed as a National dissapointment. However, I have always agreed with his decision as not everyones game is suited for that style. Faldo wanted to be an all around great golfer and I admire that. In the end it proved out that he made the right decision when you take a look at the results of his career.
   
   Nick Faldo has indeed spent a lot of time playing golf to the exclusion of other interests and as well people in his life. But then I ask, what great athlete hasn't (ha ha ha). Isn't that how you become great by having that singular focus and depending on the others around you to understand that. To understand that's how you put food on the table and a roof over your head and supply all the luxurious gifts that are lavished. Indeed. Indeed.
   
   Faldo has weathered the critisizm, the losses, the heart ache and done so all while still performing. It's truly amazing to think how much he went through and was still yet able to perform. On Faldo's place in the overall ranking of Golfers all time, I suppose any evaluation would have to focus only on record to be unbiased. And so there are many you would have to rank above him. But then I never liked to look simply at numbers. Take for instance Severiano. Is he a better golfer than Faldo because he had one more Major victory? To you perhaps, I don't know. But to me Faldo has the edge over his past rival. For 2 reasons, 1)Faldo won the biggest of all the Majors, that being the Masters 3 times and also facturing in how he won them. 2 playoffs, one in which he sank I believe a 20 or 40 foot put to win the bloody thing. Then of course following that victory up the very next year with another playoff win to go back to back. I factor in winning 2 years in a row as well. Ladies and Gentlemen that's quite hard to do. I have already recounted his victory over Norman in 96 Masters. Again Legendary.
   
   Perhaps just as big certainly around the world and maybe in the US is The Open Championship which Faldo also won 3 times. 2 times at Muirfield and then once at the Royal and Ancient Golf Course St. Andrews. In fact it was at Muirfield that Faldo won his greatest Championship. After having won the Masters back to back and The Open at Muirfield and St. Andrews his career was reported to be finished. Funny I guess no one was able to convice Nick Faldo as he won The Open a second time at Muirfield. Understandbly emotional and in tears Faldo had once again proven his critics wrong. Then he so eloquently thanked them from the heart of his bottom. HA HA HA Good Show Nick! Good Show! Fair to say that was over 10 years ago now. He might not like me recounting that as he was highly critisized, but hey I thought it was funny. I love ya Nick.
   
   So again I would have to give the edge to Faldo over Seve. And that's really the only evaluation I care about since that was his biggest rival. In regards to Nicklaus and Watson, well, Nick never got to face those guys in his prime and vice versa so to try and speculate would be just that, speculation.
   
   It's hard to say how history will paint Nick Faldo. I suppose the feelings will always quite divided. Personally I love the man, to me he's an inspiration. Anyone that put's their heart and soul into anything the way he has is inspiring to me. Fortunately the happy ending came for him in his personal life as well as he is now married to a quite attractive and wonderfully sweet woman named Valerie Bercher.
   
   So finally, how would I sum up Nick Faldo? How would I decribe Nick Faldo? Well, I would simply refer to the title of this book written so beautifully by Dale Concannon, Driven.
   
   And a good guy. Cheers Nick!

No comments about I Remember Bobby Jones: Personal Memories of and Testimonials to Golf's Most Charismatic Grand Slam Champion, As Told by the People Who Knew Him (I Remember Series).

1 comments about 18 Holes With Tiger (Beckett Great Sports Heroes).

1. This is a great book for anyone who watches or just admires the amazing talent of Tiger Woods. There are many great pictures and insights into his incredible career. Get it!

3 comments about Shark: The Biography of Greg Norman.

1. You'll now understand the arrogant, egotistical man you watch on television - and have confirmed the attitude he portrays. It's no wonder he never looks happy despite his wealth, Greg has put himself first at all costs to arrive at where he is. I can see now why he has no real friends, and you will see too. A complex individual, and must reading for Norman fans.



2. Ms St. John's book is a fascinating look at a man who is extremely complex. Much like his approach to the green, Greg Norman is bold, aggressive, and sometimes to his detriment, brutally honest. I found interesting the people who do and do not like him. I for one, find him to be refreshing and never boring as so many PGA players are today. Keep breaking the mold, Greg! We need to be kept on our toes!



3. Greg Norman is a great golfer. He has an incredible fascination for many golfers and his fans. I haven't found in this book in-depth analysis of his character, his passion for the golf, his competitive drive, and why he is so charismatic for many of us.A detailed biography is yet to come.

1 comments about From Birdies to Bunkers: Discover How Golf Can Bring Love, Humor, and Success into Your Life.

1. Bought this at TPC Sawgrass clubhouse after playing and missing the island green and heading to Kiawah and the Ocean course (wife birdies it by the way), my wife now yells at me on the course "ALICE" which means don't go from trouble to more trouble" Read it and something from this book will improve your life and game and remember Alice when your duffed tee shot fails to make the women's tees-she is the one responsible for the forward tee boxes and all of those island greens. Now bring on Teeth of the Dog.

No comments about Tiger Woods: Photo Tribute to a Champion.

5 comments about Tin Cup Dreams: A Long Shot Makes It on the PGA Tour.

1. This book was simply sensational! Anyone who has ever touched a golf club should read this book, because it makes anyone a believer that the "impossible" can happen. I could not put this heartwarming book down after reading page after page of Esteban's trials and turmoils on his path to greatness on the PGA Tour. What a great book for anyone who's been told that they cannot do something. Esteban Toledo silenced all his critics and proved that he could!



2. This book contains an excellent story and very well paced.It follows Esteban Toledo from his PGA tour qualification to the tour as he plays in a variety of tournaments, covering his practise habits, his earlier life, his caddy, the playing partners and family. The year seems to pass in front of the reader giving insights into variety of aspects of professional golf players.

   A hard to put down book.




3. Itýs hard to know what part of this sweaty fairy tale to like the best.
   First there was Esteban Toledo the boy. He was the driven young Mexican kid whose family in Mexicali was so poor that having nothing would be a step up.

   But the boy was also unique. He was a scrapper. He was a boy with nothing who taught himself to play a rich manýs game and he worked at it fulltime. So, just at the right time, some rich gringo from California offered the boy a miracle.

   Then, there is Esteban the man. It took a while until he adjusted to the first miracle: Going from the streets to living in a mansion. But he goes on to a new struggle, the hugely difficult quest to play on the PGA tour and just when he seems doomed, he creates a second miracle.

   Finally, we have the millionaire, a man who plowed fields behind a horse at age 8. Jon Minnis the self-made man doesnýt care about a charitable tax deduction. He prefers results to tax deductions. He and his wife, Rita, would rather pluck a poor kid out of the Mexicali slums, just because the kid deserves a shot. Then, of course, they will love him and suffer with him. Youýll thank God they didnýt just write a check.

   Tin Cup Dreams by Michael DýAntonio is a true, painful, inspiring tale in which suffering leads to miracles. These miracles demand huge investments in sacrifice, and enormous, unlikely leaps of faith before the ball falls into that tin cup at just the right moment. But when that ball really does fall, you still know it is a miracle and you still wipe the sweat off your brow and rejoice.

   If youýve never bet on a long shot, or even if you have, this is a great, fast read that pays off in inspiration and motivation. Meet PGA Tour pro golfer Esteban Toledo and the people who are there with him in his dream. Itýs worth it.




4. To simply put it, this was a very good book and an easy read too, however many typos and errors. But other than that i loved the book.



5. We often get a quick blurb by anouncers whenever an unknown makes it into the top running during a tournament. Some kid who has done nothing put play golf since he could hold a club, or some underadvantaged caddie who figured out how to beat a few of the best. We don't tend to hear much more than that, though.
   
   Esteban Toledo, like many of the figures on (and off and on...) tour that we admire rarely get such a closeup. Hogan's story brings inspiration, Bobby Jones brings awe. Neither tale, however, gives any of us much to relate to. Esteban's story does. He is far beyond a weekend hack, but like most of us who seem to spend more time on the range than at home he is a grinder, ever looking to improve and maintain himself. His motivations are different, but the goal is the same: attaining a dream.
   
   Reading this story will stir something in any golfer, I imagine, making it a good addition to your library. I do hope if the book is reprinted, though, that the numerous typos will be fixed.

1 comments about Byron Nelson: The Most Remarkable Year in the History of Golf.

1. The book is an interesting chronicle of Byron's 1945 season, however the writing is rather dry. I think it could have been much more interesting if the author had more of a flair. I have read a lot of golf books, and this just left me slightly underwhelmed.

No comments about SuperGolf: Set-up, Swing and Shotmaking Secrets from the Best of the World Golf Hall of Fam.

No comments about ARNIE: THE EVOLUTION OF A LEGEND..