Us Against Them

June 21, 2004
Culling yarns and personal reflections from several generations of Ryder Cup players and captains, this engrossing oral history tells it like it was by those who were there. Established in the 1920s by the self-made entrepreneur Samuel Ryder to promote the game of golf on both sides of the Atlantic, the Ryder Cup is played not for money but for the honor of representing one's country. McMillan's intimate, anecdotal approach is perfectly suited to capturing the spirit and emotions of this unique event, which has long been distinguished by fierce rivalries and patriotic fervor. All the great moments in Ryder Cup history are here, such as when Jack Nicklaus conceded Tony Jacklin's final putt in 1969 to tie both the match and tournament (in the event of a tie, the Americans would retain the cup they'd won in 1967)—a stirring moment related by Jacklin himself. The many contributors bring a degree of insight and candor that would not have been possible in a standard, third-person account. Although the early years of the tournament are, understandably, recounted in less depth, the book should be avidly read by fans. Agents, Brian Defiore and Suzanne Gluck.
(Aug.)

Forecast:
The publication of this volume is perfectly timed for the Ryder Cup this September, and should draw media attention.

August 1, 2004
The Ryder Cup, in which 12 top golfers from the U.S. play 12 of the same from Europe, is headline news these days, but it wasn't always so. U.S. domination of the biennial competition made it a nonevent until the 1980s, when it was decided to pit all of Europe, rather than only the UK, against the Americans. With the inclusion of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Marie Olazabol from Spain and Bernhard Langer from Germany, the Ryder Cup became competitive, and the game was on. This engaging oral history follows the cup from the early days of Hogan and Snead through the hotly contested recent matches, including the Americans' come-from-behind win at Brookline in 1999. The facts will be familiar to golf fans, but the incidental commentary is fresh and fascinating. Here is Jack Nicklaus in 1975 telling Arnold Palmer what he thought of Latrobe Country Club's no-women-in-the-dining-room policy: "Never mind the rules and all that crap, Arnold. If my wife is not sitting down to have lunch with me tomorrow, I'm going home." Must reading for golf fans anticipating this year's Ryder Cup.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)