Caddy For Life
The Bruce Edwards Story
By John Feinstein

      John Feinstein is known best as a sportswriter, yet his books usually manage to transcend sports by focusing on the relationships he discovers within the sport or event he is covering.

      On the cover of Feinstein’s latest work, Caddy For Life: The Bruce Edwards Story, is a golf bag and a caddy, suggesting that the book is about golf. But the back of the jacket displays the true subject of this book, as the caddy, Bruce Edwards, shares a laugh with his longtime employer, PGA legend Tom Watson. This book is about relationships, friendship and heartbreak and it is probably Feinstein’s greatest work to date.

      Bruce Edwards has been Tom Watson’s caddy since 1973. In a sport where golfers fire caddies and replace them on a regular basis, Edwards and Watson’s longetivity alone would make a great story. But during their thirty year business partnership, they also became best friends. And in January of 2003, when Edwards was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, the bond between these two men became stronger and more poignant.

     Feinstein does a masterful job of unveiling the story through the rich details of Edwards and Watson’s history together. Watson is regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history and credits much of his success to Edwards. Feinstein covers the genesis of their partnership in 1973 when they agreed to try it for just a week, through Watson’s eight major victories including the famous 1982 U.S. Open chip-in and to the heartbreaking phone call to Watson to notify him of his diagnosis. All of it is done with a deft touch and makes this one of Feinsten’s most compelling works.

     Perhaps the finest chapter in the book is the one that chronicles Watson’s miraculous first round at the 2003 U.S. Open. Shot by shot, hole by hole, Feinstein tells us about Watson’s unbelievable opening round 65 to give him the first round lead. But the heart of the chapter is Edwards going along for the ride, as ALS was so openly destroying his body, carrying the bag for his boss, his eyes filled with tears as Watson plays like the player he once was. The gallery, the other players and fellow caddies are all crying by the end of the round and most readers will be spilling tears onto their pages as well.

     Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end with the completion of the book. In a cruel bit of irony, Edwards passed away several weeks ago on April 8th, just two days after this book was released. This book will be the ultimate legacy for Edwards and Feinstein could not have handled it any better. This is, quite simply, one of the best books of the year in any category and should not be missed.