Paging Augusta

THE MASTERS: 101 REASONS TO LOVE GOLF'S GREATEST TOURNAMENT, by Ron Green Sr.; Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $18.95

FIRST SUNDAY IN APRIL: THE MASTERS, foreword by Don Wade and introduction by Brad Faxon ; Sterling Publishing, $19.95

How do we love the Masters? Ron Green Sr., the longtime golf writer for The Charlotte Observer , counts 101 ways. Presented in no particular order, Green's "reasons" are the result of more than 50 pilgrimages to Augusta National and together form a likable thin volume of affectionate prose and photography. Some of the objects of Green's affection are obvious: Gene Sarazen 's double eagle (number 13), the green jacket (22), Amen Corner (27), Jack Nicklaus 's win in 1986 (67) and Tiger Woods 's romp in '97 (99). Some are more obscure: The course's serving as a farm during World War II (19), Bobby Jones 's emotional final round in 1948 (21), skipping tee shots across the water at the 16th during practice rounds (31), the Crow's Nest (48) and the fact that 1967 champion Gay Brewer once parked cars at the tournament and '87 winner Larry Mize once worked the leader board (91). Overall, 101 Reasons makes for a lovely souffl�—warm, light and fluffy.

By comparison, First Sunday in April: The Masters could have used a bit more time in the oven. The problems start with the title. First Sunday? That's when the Tour is in Houston . Masters Sunday is always the second Sabbath of the month. More regrettable are some of the selections in this anthology. (Although, any anthology is long overdue.)

There are first-rate entries, such as Herbert Warren Wind 's 1958 classic from SI , in which he christened Amen Corner, and Dan Jenkins 's knowing "The Masters Its Ownself." Also included are a nice column on caddies by Dave Anderson and worthy reminiscences from the autobiographies of Nicklaus , Byron Nelson , Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Ken Venturi . Unfortunately, the majority of the material is unexceptional contemporary reportage. Where is Grantland Rice ? Are Jim Murray , Charles Price and Red Smith not worthy? Was there no room for the wicked Brits—Peter Dobereiner, Henry Longhurst and Pat Ward-Thomas? How could John Updike 's "Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Masters" miss the cut?

There are no egregious bogeys in First Sunday, only a lot of grinding pars when birdies were there to be had.