Miracle on the 17th Green

Travis McKinley #0.5

by James Patterson, Peter de Jonge (Contributor)

Travis McKinley's life has drifted sideways. His job, his marriage, even his children all feel disconnected and distant. Has he really accomplished nothing of consequence in his life? One Christmas Day, Travis plays a round of golf and finds himself for the first time in the zone--playing like a pro. In astonishingly short order, Travis is catapulted into the PGA Senior Open at Pebble Beach, where he advances to the final round. And while his wife, his children, and a live television audience watch, a miracle takes place that changes Travis, and his family, forever.

Genres: Fiction, Sports, Mystery, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult, Novels

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for Miracle on the 17th Green (audiobook) James Patterson and Peter de Jonge read by Brian Bascle.

This is an interesting story of a husband and father who is down on his luck and decides to go all in on golf. Either he goes pro or he loses everything meaningful to him.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patterson and de Jonge offer up a heartfelt story about a man looking to pursue his passion. Travis McKinley finds himself in a rut, at a job he hates, in a marriage gone stale, and with children whose connection to him appears to be fading. His one solace is on the golf course, where McKinley plays the round of his life one Christmas Day. When he loses his job, McKiney decides to chase his dream, playing on the PGA Senior Tour. After attending qualifying school, McKinley earns one year on the Tour where he finds himself rubbing elbows with the greats of the game, all while his family takes a backseat to his dream. McKinley earns the right to play in the PGA Senior Open at Pebble Beach, the most prestigious of events. McKinley's threesome on the final day includes his heroes, Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd, after three days of gruelling play. It is here, on the 17th Green, that McKinley sees the world from a new perspective, which changes things forever and helps him put it all into perspective. A quick read well-adapted for fans of the sappy side to Patterson's writing.

The novella is Patterson at his sappiest, not something I tend to enjoy. That said, as I was in need of a quick read to fill a little time. The story has degrees of hokeyness that can be seen a mile away, but its central tenet is strong enough to propel the reader to forge on, knowing it will be a short journey. Catchy and at times mildly humerous, Patterson and de Jonge keep the reader at least somewhat curious, especially as they've recently penned a sequel. This golf-flavoured story seeks to motivate and keep a tear firmly housed at the edge of the reader's eye.

Decent work Messrs. Patterson and de Jonge, though not likely to receive rave reviews for its content.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice holiday read. It's mainstream fiction, perhaps a little predictable (but for me it did deliver a couple of surprises). But if you're looking for a short, positive Christmas story, you are sure to enjoy it.

My favorite parts are where the main character interacts with real golf celebrities.

--John

[Mike French · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the prequel to Miracle at Augusta. I really enjoyed this book but didn't like Miracle at Augusta at all! This story is not very believable, but Miracle at Augusta was beyond belief! I think you will enjoy this book if you are a golfer and a fan of James Patterson, If not,skip it and read Alex Cross.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short, easy to read novel. I enjoyed it more than Patterson's Miracle at Augusta.
"I was doing what my heart told me to do".

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big review writer, but I loved this book! It's heartwarming, humorous, and very touching. Don't worry if you've never played golf, the story is about so much more than that.

[Karschtl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Stars

I have to admit that I didn't read the blurb at all when I bought this book 15 years ago. I solely saw the prominent name, and also the book was only 3€.

Now I finally read it - and it's about golf. A lot of golf! Although I never played it, and didn't understand any of the golf lingo, I quite enjoyed reading this book solely for seeing how Travis would change his life by becoming a pro on the Senior Tour.

I could also totally see this as a movie, the built-up of the tension until the finale is literally written for a movie! And a quick search on Imdb told me there really is one (albeit a TV movie that maybe never made it to German television)!

[Jim Eisenhauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

First audiobook of the year and will not be my last. The first installment of the Travis McKinley story. What started as a story of a man primed to make the senior tour turned into a story of a man fighting to save his marriage. He not only does that (with the aide of a $135k ring), but he also chips in to win the U.S. open! #theroadtoIndy

[Richard Muro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read - inspiring.

[Becky Pavich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook with Alex. He gave this 5 stars because he appreciated the golf play by play. A nice and hopeful story.

[Savannah Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 for me
4.5 for Husband

[Christen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst book I've read this year. Absolute dreck. Possibly the protagonist was not as unlikeable 30 years ago, and it just hasn't held up well. If I were you, I would read something else.

[Sarah Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Very sweet story about all the beautiful things golf can do mentally and emotionally for people but most importantly, what family and loved ones can do for us.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure if I was going to like this one. For one thing, I am not necessarily a huge fan of golf. Secondly, I haven't really liked any of the books that James Patterson has written with Peter de Jonge. This one proved to be a nice surprising exception.

Travis McKinley is at a point in his life where he is starting to look back and wish that he had made some different decisions. He is a moderately successful adman. He has three children and is happily married to and OBGYN. One Christmas day, he starts things off by deciding to go play a round of golf at the club he is part of in Winnetka, Illinois. He ends up playing what seems to be the round of his dreams, mastering putts he normally would have struggled with. He is so caught up in his success that he ends up missing Christmas dinner.

What is even more amazing is that this seems to be the start of a trend. Every time he plays a round, he seems to score a 69. After he is let go from his less-than-thrilling job and try to go out for the PGA Senior Tour. Travis' wife Sarah is not happy to hear the news and thinks he should grow up, which turns out to be a sign that she is not as happy in the relationship as he is. All of this does not prevent him from deciding to give his dreams a try.

In this feel-good novel, readers get a chance to see that sometimes dreams can come true, particularly when it comes down to being the person your really are. Travis gets a chance to compete against some of golf's greatest players including Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino and show them that even an underdog has a chance.

This is definitely a fairy tale story, but that is more than OK because sometimes we want to read a story where everything turns out all right and everyone lives happily ever after.

[Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read somewhere that you did not have to love, or even know much about, the game of golf to really enjoy this story. WRONG! Despite growing up with a father who's mantra was "it never rains on the golf course" I know very little about the game. I am okay with that.
This book however, did require some knowledge of the game beyond your typical surface knowledge. I do believe I would have enjoyed it more if I understood more about the way a golfer thinks.
Travis seems to be at the end of his rope - facing a failing marriage, losing touch with his children and being let go from his lifelong job. What is a man to do? What else - try to participate in one of the most recognized competitions in America. The PGA Seniors tour is no small competition, and quite the coup for the weekend golfer that Travis had now been for many years. I am not sure how chasing a dream and walking away from your family for potentially a year would be a good idea to anyone in his situation - but he went for it. And good for him.
The topic did not truly hold my attention, but overall the story was pretty good. Listening to it was easy, and unlike most audiobooks I did not find myself rewinding the bits I had not paid full attention to - however I did not once think of stopping before listening to the last track.
Finally, I must admit I prefer when Patterson writes on his own (which doesn't appear to happen too often) but I did think the collaboration of these two authors was done quite well.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the run of the mill novel for James Patterson. A gentle simple story that is a very good quick read.
This was a very early James Patterson book that you don't see on the book shelves very often due to it not being the usual book associated with the author.

Synopsis: Travis McKinley is an ordinary man living an ordinary life - he has a job that he despises, a marriage that has lost its passion, children from whom he feels disconnected, and at age fifty, a sense that he has accomplished nothing of consequence with his life. But on Christmas Day, he goes out to play a round of golf, and for the first time, he finds himself in the "zone". He sees the putting line that has eluded him for years. Always a fairly good golfer, he finds himself playing like a pro and is so caught up in his excitement that he continues to play, sinking putt after putt, missing Christmas dinner with his wife and family. It is too much for his already troubled marriage.
His family collapse - but Travis is soon too busy living his dream to notice. His amazing new golf skills catapult him into the PGA Senior Open at Pebble Beach, where he advances to the final round with two of his heroes, Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd. And with his wife, children, and a live television audience watching, a miracle takes place on the 17th green that will change Travis, and his family, forever.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 1996 by Little, Brown and Company.

The high school I teach at is in the midst of library book purge. I have no idea why this book was ever in a high school library because it is aimed at adults. I don't mean that it has "adult themes" like a movie might label them (drugs, sex, violence, etc.), I mean that it has adult themes like questioning whether you have made the right choices in life, which comes first - family or career? Is it okay to put your family at risk just to achieve your personal goals, especially when they are a long shot?

I really enjoyed this book despite never having played even one hole of real golf (I have played plenty of putt-putt golf, but that doesn't really apply, does it?). It didn't really matter - the story was compelling and I faked my way through the golf stuff.

James Patterson has a long history of co-writing books. I always figure he's lending his name to up and coming authors in exchange for a little bit of co-writing, a lot of advising and a paycheck. This book was his first co-writing venture and Patterson and de Jonge have co-written 5 books in total.

I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

Note: there are 2 sequels that were added to this book to make a trilogy in 2105 and 2019. I am not going to read them because this book ended at a good place.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Travis McKinley is a 50 year old man who hates his job in advertising and has done so for the entire 23 years he has called it a career. When his much younger boss tells Travis the company is letting him go Travis is not nearly as upset as he feels he should be. Instead he sees this as the golden opportunity to pursue his dream - becoming a pro golfer on the US Seniors Tour. His wife Sarah sees it much differently, however, and quickly brings up divorce as her own golden opportunity. Travis loves his wife and three children but after a nearly religious experience on the local golf course Christmas morning he pays his $3,000 to train for the tour and win one of the coveted 8 open slots to play along with the likes of Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus. He wins his spot and is soon winning tournaments, but life back home in Winnetka, Illinois, goes on without Travis without any noticeable difference. Has he won his life's dream at the cost of his family?

I am definitely not a fan of this book as it's just a little too saccharine for my taste. I also know nothing about golf except for the 'miniature' kind or the 'Wii' kind so all of the technical golfing jargon meant absolutely nothing to me.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travis McKinley to the reader in the first person. Interesting way to write a book. His job, marriage, even his children are disconnected from him.

He plays a round of golf and gets himself, "in the zone," advances to the PGA Senior Open at Pebble Beach, where he advances to the final round.

Then a miracle happens.

First off, I don't golf. Travis talked about people who are terrible to eat with. They attack their food with naked fear. Same with golfers. Some are fine to golf with. Others are not. I experienced the latter. The guy was crazy in love with the game. Drove me insane. That's why I don't golf. I attribute any road rage to the manic professional golfer who made me chase his golf balls, instead of slowing him down.

Still, I loved this story. A guy going through mid-life crises deserves some wins. Only thing I didn't like, the dozen or so swear words.

Miracles do happen.

[Dan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about an older gentleman who has been struggling to keep his family life together while trying to enjoy whats left of his own. Travis McKinley, has just turned fifty, has been turned out by his family, and has been fired from a company that he has been working for for 23 years. His wife and kids are slipping, but his journey for redemption has just begun. Travis gets a crazy idea that leads him to trying out for the Senior PGA Tour. Suprisingly he makes it. At first, he believes that he will make it all the way, but after a while, he starts to fall behind. His caddie tells him that he needs practice and Travis starts practicing day and night. After many tours and long hours, Travis ends up winning the Senior PGA Championship. His family gets back together and he lives happily ever after!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read. Nice story. I am not a golf fan....and other than hitting a bucket of golf balls at the combined putt-putt course, my knowledge of golf is severely limited. But, I could follow it and even enjoy the story! So, that said....you do not have to be a golf fan. I also was mislead in my own thinking.......thought the "miracle" was some type of special power or supernatural intervention...perhaps reading Patterson's Bird Children books made me think that way. Instead, this is just a good story about a "talent", belief in one's self and perseverance.

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a most delightful read. Having just completed a difficult classic read, it was the right book at the right time. While I am not a golfer I still found this book most entertaining. The store line was entertaining, the conflicts realistic and the solutions believable. If you are a golfer it would be a plus because you would revel in the hero's experiences and no doubt learn more about golf. This is a fun and relaxing read!

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was boring and dull, the only good part was the fact that the print was larger and it was short. Someone interested in golf might like the book. Travis has a bad marriage and loses his job so he decides to take a year long class in golf so he can be on the PGA senior golf circuit. After missing Christmas dinner with his family he makes up his mind to join the class and his wife decides to divorce him.

[Martha Scannell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a golfer, but the title intrigued me. It's a quick, easy read and Patterson's colorful writing helps the non-golfer relate to Travis' struggle to carve out his new career along with his struggle to re-connect to family. Touching moments too, to which everyone can relate.
Well-worth the read.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute sappy love story - but with all the great stuff out there I think it was a bi of a waste of my time spent reading. My author loyalty is waning - as I realizing that not all of James Patterson is great. Maybe if I enjoyed golf I would have appreciated more of the meat of the book and of the main characters accomplishments - but I cannot say I would recommend this.

[Rebecca Neely · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful, heartfelt and inspirational story :) I really enjoyed the characters, along with all the golf speak and big names in golf, brought to life. My father loved golf, and I grew up watching Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Raymond Floyd in the major opens with him. This is a book he would love!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads like some serious wish fulfilment on the authors part. I thought I knew enough about golf terminology to be able to follow along, but the first ten chapters put paid to that pipe dream. Overall, this wasn't too bad, but the title was easily telegraphed and I did roll my eyes at a few of the plot "twists". The resolution was a little too short, I would have preferred a tiny bit more.

[Sherryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a very short book that had much more to do with golf than with life. Though I knew it was about golf when I picked it out, I thought there would be more storyline about the man's family. It was very predictable.

[Carey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best thing about this book it that it was a quick, easy one night read. It was boring. I enjoy golf but it was a lot of detail about the lay of the ball and the lay of the course and really just a tiny bit about life, family etc. To call any of it a miracle is also a bit of a stretch.

[Eddie Lovett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! It explores finding yourself as it relates to the ones you love. I found myself thinking of my boys and how they see me and how I want them to see me. I was sad when that it the story ended.