By the end of the second day the fight back had begun with the Ryder Cup inspired Ian Poulter leading the charge and bringing the score back to a still rather convincing 10-6 lead for the Americans ahead of the final day singles.
And even then the initial signs for Europe weren’t good. Rory McIlroy almost missed his tee off time, and the early leader board showed a considerable amount of American red as opposed to European blue. But gradually the tide turned, and as each miraculously holed European putt found its unlikely way into the hole, so the American players lost their way and began to crumble.
This book by the journalist Oliver Holt is an equally remarkable piece of work, painstakingly piecing together all of the threads of the final day, its protagonists and is dramas. Holt is not a journalist I have much time for given his frequent inane ramblings on various football issues, but with this book he has earned all the plaudits that come his way and more besides. More than merely a sequential relaying of events and their repercussions, Holt delves so much deeper. There is the ever present “Seve” effect on the European squad and in particular their captain Jose-Maria Olazabal, the level of sportsmanship displayed by the likes of Phil Mickelson and Davis Love in stark contrast to the events of Brookline 1999. There are the personal stories, the context of every success and failure and the ever changing face of the scoreboard, all tied together superbly well.
You can compare this fight back to that achieved by the Americans in Brookline, but the key difference is the venue. On both occasions, America was the home team with all favouritism and opportunity that goes with that. The Brookline come back was truly remarkable too, but for Europe to achieve what they did from such a position at Medinah is surely the greater accomplishment. And the aforementioned sportsmanship is a pleasing difference between the two also.
But aside from all those entwined stories, what comes across best in this book in the sense of atmosphere and occasion that Holt creates, and makes for a real page turner of a read. One that does justice to an incredible sporting event and a remarkable piece of sporting drama that could be enjoyed by golf fans and more general sports fans alike. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
- Aidan Williams - http://thesportsbookreview.com
Publisher - Headline
Date of Publication - 22 Nov 2012