Book Review – War by the Shore by Curt Sampson

The book tackles the exciting and contentious 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island played on the tremendously difficult Pete Dye Ocean Course. The US won on the last putt when Bernhard Langer missed a 6 footer against Hale Irwin

This tournament really put the Ryder Cup on the map and war rhetoric was ramped up with Corey Pavin and Steve Pate wearing Desert Storm hats. European players like Langer and Montgomerie thought the attitude of players and hostility of the crowds went beyond gentlemanly behaviour

There would be 21 and a half hours of television coverage, an exponential increase over past Ryder Cups and it was the most extensively covered sporting event over three days in history

Rivalries of Azinger vs Ballesteros and their gamesmanship, Azinger versus Faldo and others are discussed along with the different personalities

Langer’s history of the yips, Calcavecchia’s total collapse and devastation against Montgomery (in his first Ryder Cup), David Feherty’s trying to handle his nerves are some of the storylines. This was a great example of stage fright for many of the players and this pressure cooker melted major champions. The term “choke” comes up and Johnny Miller’s will have his say.

The tournament put previously under-appreciated Kiawah Island on the map and drove millions of dollars to the area. Charleston is a wonderful nearby city to enjoy visiting. 2007 Golf Digest declared that the Ocean Course is the toughest track in the world. All of the Ocean Course bunkers would not be treated as bunkers—that is, they were not hazards. Now there are 4 additional nice courses.

Information is shared about the captains and players before, during and after this Ryder Cup captained by Dave Stockton for the US and Bernhard Gallacher for Europe