Men in Green

Veteran Sports Illustrated writer Bamberger (This Golfing Life) had a bucket list of golf interviews. A sometime caddy, he was joined on the road with Mike Donald, a golf pro who got close to the sun with a near-win at the 1990 U.S. Open. The book has a somewhat misleading title, as it features conversations with a number of Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) luminaries such as Mickey Wright and Barbara Romack. There is also dialog with Hale Irwin, Curtis Strange, and several others both inside and outside the ropes. But the highlight is Arnold Palmer recounting his controversial win over Ken Venturi in the 1958 Masters Tournament. Bamberger does an exceptionally good job of presenting the various sides of the issue, including conversations with former United States Golf Association (USGA) president Sandy Tatum about the rule in question. (Palmer prevails.) Also noteworthy is Palmer's opinion on Tiger Woods's struggles since returning to the sport.