The true story of the dramatic 1991 Ryder Cup at
Kiawah Island, which changed the competition in golf
forever. The 1991 Ryder Cup began in 1985. Up to then,
the biennial match between all-star teams of golf
professionals from America and Europe was more
ceremonial exhibition than real competition, with the
Americans consistently beating the Europeans. That all
changed in 1985, when the Europeans wrested it away at
the Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England. The Europeans
would go on to win again in 1987, and in 1989 the
competition ended in a draw. By the time the 1991 Ryder
Cup arrived, the American team had vengeance on their
minds. The 1991 Ryder Cup also occurred between the
United States's victories in both the Persian Gulf War
and the Cold War that year, and the sense of patriotism
that came along with the end of those conflicts
permeated the national psyche. The competition was
broadcast to over 200 million people in twenty-three
countries across the globe. Fans forgot golf 's
gentlemanly code of conduct, and loud boos, jeers, and
cheers of ''USA!'' could be heard from the gallery. The
Ryder Cup began to resemble the Super Bowl, and it
quickly became evident that this match was about more
than just golf. In ''The War by the Shore,'' veteran
golf writer and bestselling author Curt Sampson
chronicles this pivotal competition. He interviewed
dozens of key players from both Team USA and Team
Europe, and provides historical context to explain why
the tension was ratcheted so high at this particular
Ryder Cup. Well-researched, engrossing, and deeply
entertaining, ''The War by the Shore'' is the story of
when golf lost its manners (and, to some extent, its
mind). |
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