Andrisani, former Golf
magazine editor and author (Think Like Tiger
; The Tiger Woods Way
), has taken an always questionable but all-too-common approach to the problem of how to distinguish his guide from the throng of golf guidebooks: celebrity worship. Seemingly written more for the couch potato fan than the serious amateur golfer, this book offers many passages exalting Sergio Garcia's greatness and numerous snapshots of the world-class pro in action. But though several valuable tips are sprinkled throughout the book, there is little here that could not be found in any number of instructional manuals—and in a more easily understandable and helpful format. The photos, for example, tend to be random shots of Garcia that rarely help to elucidate the techniques being discussed. While Andrisani's analyses of Garcia's swing and shot-making ability are sound, it is doubtful that many amateur golfers looking to improve their game will benefit from modeling themselves after a professional as idiosyncratic as Garcia. Famous for imaginative play and spectacular shots, he is equally known for hot-headedness and inconsistency, which makes "play like Sergio Garcia" a shaky premise for a manual targeted at the average weekend golfer. Still, Andrisani does offer many tips on advanced shot-making that will be of interest to accomplished, low-handicap players, especially those who are already fluent in the rarified terminology of golf instruction, or abnormally infatuated with Garcia. (Apr.)
