The War by the Shore: The Incomparable Drama of the 1991 Ryder Cup

This is by some distance the best-written book on the Ryder Cup, or on a specific Ryder Cup - and I've read a few. Most books on the subject are variations on 'churnalism', with the same information and anecdotes endlessly recycled (or possibly plagiarised). This, by contrast, is a refreshing and original retrospective retelling of the story of the 1991 cup, with lots of interesting direct reminisces from the participants. It provides an interesting, and American, perspective 21 years after the event, to compensate for the general British narrative about screaming Yanks and Corey Pavin in an army cap - and I say that as a Brit. Sampson puts the match in its wider sporting and political context, and constructs some excellent pen pics/biographies of the players.Well worth a read, although you'll finish it in one sitting.

A great event brilliantly told. Raced through it in two sittings

Curt Sampson is one of the best golf writers around and all his books are worth reading . This account of one of the most infamous Ryder Cups is just a little disappointing . The narrative is a bit heavy on the non golf peripheral stuff and short of new insights on the golf and players . A lot of the research seems to have come from watching the tv tapes again , and parts of the story are simply retold from the point of view of the tv coverage . Still a decent read though .