Feinstein’s book details Ryder Cup moments
While author John Feinstein was doing research at the 1993 Ryder Cup in England for his first book on golf, A Good Walk Spoiled, he came upon an idea for his second book on golf. A tome on the Ryder Cup. More than 20 years passed before Feinstein tackled the subject head on. The result is the richly detailed and entertaining The First Major: The Inside Story of the 2016 Ryder Cup. The title doesn’t do the book justice, for Feinstein deals with the entire history of the biennial clash between the USA and Europe.
From the first battle in 1927 through the raucous and spirited three days in the autumn of 2016, when the Americans won for just the second time in eight contests, Feinstein takes the reader inside the ropes, into the team rooms and within the minds of those involved in the Ryder Cup.
He also provides interesting background on the players and both captains in 2016 — Darren Clarke and Davis Love III — by taking the reader to other tournaments and events that helped prepare them for the latest edition of the Ryder Cup.
“I’m a big believer in detail and background. Detail is what I do,” Feinstein said. “I take the term reporter literally. I have access to help the reader. I’m very source dependent. I needed people to come through for me.”
Did they ever. Feinstein gathered more than 100 hours of interviews from roughly 75 men and women involved in the tussle at Hazeltine Na- tional Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., and past Ryder Cups, including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Paul Azinger.
In 303 pages, Feinstein captures the intensity, the flavor, the pomp and all the circumstance that is what the author calls the biggest event in golf.
“Terror is a real emotion in the Ryder Cup,” wrote Feinstein, who just wrapped up his latest book — a kid’s mystery set at Augusta National Golf Club.
Or as European Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter put it in the book: “It’s not just electrifying, it’s someplace out there beyond electrifying.”
There are fascinating moments, including Rory McIlroy’s harrowing ride in
2012 when a police officer took side streets and even drove on sidewalks to get the Irishman to the first tee on time for his singles match. Or when Rickie Fowler went all Freddy Krueger in 2010 by hiding in a box.
The bulk of The First Major deals with the buildup and the week of the
2016 clash won by the USA 17-11. How the death of Arnold Palmer impacted the event. How a verbal battle between Golf Channel analysts Brandel Chamblee and David Duval lit a fire under the U.S. team. Why Love screened calls from assistant captain Tiger Woods. Why Phil Mickelson said his favorite moment was Jordan Spieth’s speech to the team.
And there was the golf itself, including the singles matches between Reed/ McIlroy and Mickelson/Sergio Garcia. When it was all over, Love delivered one of Feinstein’s favorite moments from all his work for the book.
“I do remember vividly Davis saying, ‘At least we gave you a happy ending,’ ” Feinstein said.