biographies

This is an inspiring tale about the legendary Bruce Edwards, Tom Watson's caddy for more than 30 years. Noted sportswriter and commentator Feinstein (Open; A Good Walk Spoiled) chronicles Edwards's story, revealing the behind-the-scenes rivalries, the thrill of winning eight major Professional Golfer's Association titles, plus the many enigmas behind this prestigious sport. The author also describes the caddy's greatest challenge-dealing with the degenerative effects of Lou Gehrig's disease-and his determination to continue with the job he loves. (Incidentally, Feinstein is dividing the royalties from the book with Edwards.) Golf enthusiasts will enjoy this unique insight into a caddy's dedicated life on the P.G.A. tour.-

Bruce Edwards was passionate about golf, and he realized at a young age that the itinerant life of a caddy was ideal for him. He worked mostly with one man, the great Tom Watson, who also became his lifelong friend. If Edwards had not been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease when he was in his late forties, this book would not have been written. However, in 2003, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic told Edwards that he had only a short time to live. "Caddy for Life," by John Feinstein, is the poignant, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting story of this courageous man.

Feinstein writes knowledgeably not just about Bruce Edwards, but also about the game of golf. When Edwards started out as a caddy, he worked for peanuts, and his living accommodations were spartan. It was only in later years that Edwards and other caddies gleaned substantial financial rewards for their efforts. People like Edwards completely changed the nature of caddying. Edwards studied each golf course thoroughly and took meticulous notes about every bump and ridge on each green. In many ways, a sharp and experienced caddy can raise a golfer's game to a higher level, and Edwards was one of the best caddies in the game.

"Caddy for Life" is, most of all, an emotional paean to the close friendship that developed between Tom Watson and Bruce Edwards. Since they went through so much during their almost thirty years together on various golf courses, Watson and Edwards knew and loved each other like brothers. Watson cried often in the days and months after Edwards told him the grim news about his fatal illness. Since then, Watson has done his best to raise awareness as well as funds for research that may someday lead to a cure for this horrendous disease.

Edwards's illness devastated his loved ones, including his parents and three siblings. What a cruel fate that a short time after Edwards proposed to the love of life, Marsha, he was diagnosed with ALS. However, he refused to shut himself in his room and brood about his misfortune. Edwards spent the rest of his life caddying with Watson to the best of his ability, and fighting the disease that was robbing him of his speech and his strength.

"Caddy for Life" is not only about the sadness of a man cut down in his prime. It is also an entertaining and often amusing account of how various golfers have struggled to tackle some of the most challenging courses in the world. Feinstein illustrates time and again that golf is as much a mental as a physical game, and few golfers have the psychological makeup to handle the pressure. "Caddy for Life" is an engrossing, moving, and informative look at the world of golf and at one particular individual who has left an indelible mark on the game he loved so much.

Bruce Edwards's parents expected their son to attend college and to enter the medical field in a worthy career. After working as a caddy, Edwards took them by surprise with the news that he would seek a career as a caddy. Author John Feinstein tells us how Edwards eventually became the caddy for golf champion Tom Watson. Together, Watson and Edwards brought home many prestigious awards and titles.

After hearing Feinstein's audio book, listeners will discover it wasn't the material things that deemed caddying worthwhile for Bruce Edwards; rather, it was his personal, as well as his professional life in the golf world. Feinstein relays Edwards' relationships, especially with Watson, to show why Edwards was held in high regard by his friends.

The abridged edition goes behind the scenes of professional golf, but not in as much as the book version. Reading the book or listening to the audio, golf fans will appreciate Bruce Edwards's passion for golf, as well as Feinstein's dedication to writing about it, especially when it gets personal.