David Feherty's Totally Subjective History of the Ryder Cup [Hardcover]

David Feherty (Author), James A. Frank (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 27, 2004

"As hard-bitten as we all get, the Ryder Cup is still the measure of intestinal fortitude." -- David Feherty, 1991
What began in 1927 as a friendly competition between best golfers from the United States and Great Britain has evolved into the most action- packed, gut-wrenching, and nail-biting event in the game-- and possibly in all of sports. For three days every two years, twenty-four of the world's best battle both as partners and as individuals, vying not for prize money but for national pride. It is an experience that makes them weak in the knees, and more than one grizzled veteran has admitted to spending the moments before teeing off exorcising his demons into the toilet.
This "history" of the game's most exciting tournament looks beyond the team lineups and final scores to uncover the personalities and stories that made every playing of the biennial matches a war of wits. From the practical jokes in the locker rooms to the strategic decisions that won (and lost) crucial matches, Feherty-- who played on the 1991 Ryder Cup team for Europe-- provides an insight and an outlook that no one else can match. Or would dare try.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Upon his retirement from professional golf in 1997, David Feherty has been a mainstay throughout the PGA golf season on CBS Sports as an on-course personality and commentator. Feherty also writes golf's most popularcolumn, "Sidespin," for Golf Magazine. In addition, he writes a biweekly column for Golfonline.com, the most popular golf website. A major draw at clinics and speaking engagements throughout the year, Feherty has been called "The Class Clown of Commentary", and "Golf's Ultimate Wise Guy." Feherty enjoyed a very successful professional career with ten victories on the European Tour, over $3 million won in prize money, and an appearance on the European Ryder Cup Team in 1991. Born and raised in Ireland, he now lives in Irving, Texas with his wife Anita and their five children, Erin, Rory, Shey, Karl, and Fred.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

At Kaiwah, the Europeans were all crammed together in the ladies' locker room, which was so small, you had to go outside to change your mind. But inside, it was great because there were players you'd admired your entire career, and essentially they were hanging in your every movement. Normally players are secretly delighted when someone drops a shot, but in the Ryder Cup you genuinely want someone else to do fantastically well. Golf is definitely not a team game-- you're in charge of your own head-- but the Ryder Cup offers a different dimension. Inside the team room things happen that don't at any other time. The players-- even the stars-- are willing for once to let their vulnerability show. You can say, "Anyone else feel awful?" and there'll be "yeahs" from all around the room.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 341 pages
• Publisher: Rugged Land (July 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590710320
• ISBN-13: 978-1590710326
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #649,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The evolution of the modern European dominance, September 20, 2004

By 

jj bruno "jbrunodog" (morris, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Feherty's Totally Subjective History of the Ryder Cup (Hardcover)

This is a good look at how the Ryder Cup evolved every year it was played, with Feherty's tongue-in-cheek humour thrown in to keep it from being a dry read. He gives you behind the scene stuff too, like the interaction between players. The real story of how the Ryder Cup evolved from the 1981 massacre of the Europeans by the Americans (led by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Raymond Floyd etc.), all the way to the 2004 massacre of the Americans (led by Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III etc.) by the Europeans is here. The Europeans were divided in 1981, looking after their own interests, leaving off Ballesteros and Tony Jacklin from their weak team, all because of petty disputes. But after they came to their senses in 1983 and put the great Seve Ballesteros on the team, and came within inches of winning, things started to jell. It was in the team room after that 1983 loss that Seve convinced his teammates (who included Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam) that they had what it takes to beat the Americans. They came together as a team because of Seve's pep talks and Tony Jacklin's coaching. And they went on from there to win 7 of the next 10 matches between 1985 and 2004 !!! American team couldn't believe that their losses were any more than fluke losses, even though it happened over and over again. And even though Seve, Faldo, Langer, Lyle, Woosie, and Olazabal no longer play for the Europeans, they'e obviously left that team spirit behind, as witness the 2004 drubbing the Europeans (with no major champions) gave to the Americans on their home soil. The evolution of the European team from huge underdogs with little to no chance in 1981 to the dominant favorites defending in Ireland in 2006 is the great story of the modern Ryder Cup. This is good reading, get it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Feherty, August 22, 2011

By 

David "davewill" (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: David Feherty's Totally Subjective History of the Ryder Cup (Hardcover)

If you love Feherty you will love his look at the Ryder Cup. If you don't like his brand of humor then you won't like his book(s). I eagerly await an update with the last few cups added!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ryder Cup, November 5, 2006

By 

Thomas L. Langlois (Fallujah, Iraq) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: David Feherty's Totally Subjective History of the Ryder Cup (Hardcover)

It is a fun read. A very light-hearted look at one of the truly great events in golf and the people involved.