Amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease,
is an equal opportunity disease. It can hit any person at any time, killing
its victims by attacking the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
According to
the charitable organizations that try to help those afflicted with ALS, each
year about 8,000 Americans are diagnosed with this incurable condition. At
any given time, roughly 30,000 Americans are in the various stages of ALS.
The combination of those two numbers tell a grim tale—once one becomes an
ALS victim, time on this earth runs short.
And once John Feinstein learned that long-time PGA Tour caddie Bruce Edwards
had contracted ALS, the best-selling sportswriter knew the subject of his
next book. Drawing upon his long friendship and association with Edwards,
the two men quickly came to terms about how Feinstein could help Edwards
leave a more permanent legacy about his life and times.
Fortunately, Feinstein was able to finish his fine work before Edwards died,
on April 8, 2004, just as this year’s Masters Tournament had begun. Tom
Watson, with whom Edwards spent most of his professional career, issued a
moving statement while at Augusta. He
urged those
attending the Golf Writers’ banquet to commemorate how Edwards lived, rather
than cry for how his life ended: “Let’s celebrate his wonderful heart. Not a
mean bone in his body.”
In many ways, Watson was correct. Edwards had a life well-worth celebrating.
Feinstein uncovered some of the early family influences that helped shape
this remarkable man. He grew up in comfortable surroundings in Connecticut,
one of four children. Some of his academic difficulties might have been
traced to an undiagnosed case of ADD, but the plain fact is that there are
many paths to maturity and making a real contribution in one’s life.
Edwards simply didn’t follow the normal upper-middle class schedule of high
school, college, perhaps grad school, and then the career. Instead, he began
working as a caddy while a teenager, and simply never accepted the notion
that lugging a golf bag full of clubs, reading greens, and helping
professional golfers meet their goals was a temporary stop on the way to
something better. For Edwards, there simply never was anything better to do
than caddying, and he excelled at it.
He was lucky, of course, in finding himself paired up with Watson. The two
men’s personalities meshed well, and as both admitted to Feinstein, they
became closer than brothers.
A
short, unsuccessful stint caddying for Greg Norman was the only extended
break in the working relationship between Watson and Edwards, and Feinstein
shows how both men worked through the emotional turmoil that the separation
created. Norman’s contribution to this part of the biography is especially
revealing and impressive.
Feinstein is brutally frank about how Edwards’ first marriage ended—badly is
perhaps too nice a word to use to describe it. Not long thereafter, however,
the caddie was deeply fortunate to find true love with his second wife,
Marsha. Shortly after they were engaged, however, his previously undetected
ALS symptoms forced him to the Mayo Clinic for the tragic confirmation of
his condition. Their marriage date was moved up, and she soon came to
exemplify the part of the wedding vows no one wants to face.
Writing such a biography under these conditions, as Edwards slowly lost his
battle with ALS, must have been a wrenching experience for Feinstein. As
with his other writings, however, he easily met his goal.
This book is a bestseller, for all the right reasons. I’m sure Bruce Edwards
would be happy to know that thousands of ALS victims and their families will
benefit from the efforts of Feinstein, Watson, his wife, and many others.
He left behind a remarkable legacy.
Review date: June 25, 2004
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Hole
By Hole's
Recommendation For:
Caddy for Life
 
Click on the book cover
above or the link below and buy this book this week!
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