The British Open : A Twentieth-Century History of Golf's Greatest Championship
Many championships qualify as opens, but when the word "Open" stands  alone following the definite article, it refers to only one tournament. The  oldest and most prestigious of golf's great championships, the British Open  first teed off at Prestwick in 1860, and no golfer's résumé is  fully complete until his name has been inscribed on the Claret Jug claimed by  the victor.The British Openchronicles the tournament's history as neatly as a  caddie organizes his player's bag. Fully illustrated with contemporary and  archival photos, it begins at the beginning, establishing 10 overall eras of  play--such as "The Early Years 1860-1900," "The Golden Years 1920-1933," and  "The Era of Nicklaus, Player, and Trevino 1963-1974"--and within them, devotes a  chapter to each tournament. The approach makes for breezy coverage, letting each  annual gathering stand on its own and, at the same time, fit into a larger  whole. It allows us to put the Open in perspective, to see patterns and stories  as they develop--the early dominance of the Morrises; the transition to a more  modern game through Harry Vardon and James Braid; the arrival and ascendance of  Bobby Jones; the brilliance of Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Tom Watson, Seve  Ballesteros; the frustrations of Greg Norman.The Open's last 30 pages are a golfer's dream: facts, figures, results,  milestones, records, and, most fun of all, complete layouts of all 14 courses to  host the tournament. It raisesThe Openfrom a spirited history into a  necessary reference--a fine golfing companion for watching the Open, or just for  thinking about it the other 51 weeks of the year.--Jeff Silverman