Whether you're a golf fan or not, even a sports fan or not, this revelatory story of what goes on behind the scenes in professional golf is quite fascinating. Hughes Norton pulls no punches regarding the greats and near greats with whom he dealt for 25 years as an agent. The unprecedented millions in sponsorship money he negotiated for some of the top names in professional golf, the attitudes of the sponsors and the golfers reactions to his efforts is a great story. His crowning achievement was negotiating deals for Tiger Woods which gave him enough money for the rest of his life before he had hit his first shot as a pro. He then chronicles his own fall from grace and loss of his job which happened relatively shortly thereafter.
This is also the story of IMG, where Norton worked. The company was founded by Mark McCormack on a handshake with Arnold Palmer. That agreement to represent Palmer as his agent was the springboard to the formation of a company that generated well over a billion dollars in revenue with offices all over the world.
In many ways it's a story of greed, arrogance and hubris, but most importantly it is a story of people driven to excel in their chosen vocation whether it be professional golf or all the tangential industries. This is an excellent book which takes the reader to places inside the business of golf and the world of sports agents most of us have never seen. I highly recommend it.
Rainmaker: Superagent Hughes Norton and the Money Grab Explosion of Golf from Tiger to LIV and Beyond
4.5 | 222 ratings
Price: 17.05
Last update: 06-16-2024
Top reviews from the United States
vegasbill
Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024Donna Schott
honest
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024Ted Farren
A look at golf from inside the ropes!
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024Geoffrey
IMG History
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2024George Naftzinger
Very Interesting Book
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024LarryB117
Great insights into the life of a “super-agent”!
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024John B.
Good but not great
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024JJ
Great insight into the world of golf
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2024