Story of Golf in 50 Tournaments

How do you write a full history of golf competition? The sheer number of years, and professional tours, and significant tournaments, make a comprehensive (yet readable) history virtually impossible. The professional men have four majors each year, and the women now have five. Beyond that, the USGA has run championships for amateurs dating back to the 1890s. And the team events: the Walker Cup, Solheim Cup, Ryder Cup, and Olympics … the list goes on and on.

There have been thousands of professional tournaments in the past century alone, but few are truly memorable, few have influenced— or even shaped— the very future of golf. That number is much smaller, perhaps 50. Tony Dear has researched the greatest competitions since the mid 1800s, and has found the 50 tournaments that best capture the history of pro golf, and that can explain the game and its development, to golfers and non-golfers alike.

Many people have heard of how Francis Ouimet’ s victory in the 1913 U.S. Open helped to grow the game in America. Or Bobby Jones’ great amateur victories, including his Grand Slam in 1930. Readers may recall Nicklaus’ remarkable comeback in the 1986 Masters, and Tiger’ s six consecutive USGA championships, all through rigorous match play. And the legendary duels, Watson against Nicklaus, Joyce Wethered against Glenna Collett, and Seve versus all comers. And then there are the great Ryder Cup battles: the War by the Shore in 1991, the Battle of Brookline in 1999, and the miracle at Medinah in 2012.

But there are many more performances that aren’ t household memories (but should be), more that changed the rules of the game, more that announced the beginnings (or solidified the legacies) of legendary careers, more that created a new facet of pro golf. By focusing on the pivotal moments, this book lets readers dive deeper, and to develop a richer understanding of the game.