Even those that don't follow golf seem
to have some recollection of Phil Mickelson's Masters victory in 2004.
They saw the jump that was frozen in time by numerous magazines, saw
him on the myriad of talk shows he visited after the win, or heard
about it from someone else.
One Magical Sunday (But Winning
Isn't Everything) recaps his win at the major championship that
had eluded him for so long, but also explores the influences in
Mickelson's life and how those influences have shaped his career
and helped get him to that Master's victory.
Each hole that Mickelson played
on that fateful Sunday is dissected in detail by Mickelson himself,
as well as family members and coaches. The variety of perspectives
on what was happening gives the story a much fuller feel than just
reading a one person account of that day. Golf fans will revel in
listening to Mickelson explain his thought process in setting up
each shot on each hole.
But what really gives this
story a special feel are the anecdotes and memories that Mickelson
shares that are expertly intertwined with the play by play of his
round. They give the listener insight into not just Mickelson the
golfer, but also Mickelson the father, son, and husband. His explanation
of how he "gives" his daughters magic reveals how much he truly
enjoys being a dad.
This is a book that truly
benefits from the audio CD format and comes across much differently
than the traditional reading version. Not only does Mickelson do
much of his own narration, but his wife and daughters also read
their parts, which really gives the story a personal feeling. When
you reach the end, you realize you know just as much about Mickelson's
family as you do his golf and you come away with the impression
that as much as he enjoys playing golf at a championship level,
it pales in comparison to the love he has for his family.
If you're not a golf fan,
don't let Mickelson's profession steer you away from this gem of
a listen. It's entertaining, fun, and informative. And it's for
everyone who puts family first.