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Slaying the Tiger: A Year Inside the Ropes on the New PGA Tour
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In Slaying the Tiger, one of today’s boldest young sportswriters spends a season inside the ropes alongside the rising stars who are transforming the game of golf. For more than a decade, golf was dominated by one galvanizing Eldrick “Tiger” Woods. But as his star has fallen, a new, ambitious generation has stepped up to claim the crown. Once the domain of veterans, golf saw a youth revolution in 2014. In Slaying the Tiger, Shane Ryan introduces us to the volatile, colorful crop of heirs apparent who are storming the barricades of this traditionally old-fashioned sport. As the golf writer for Bill Simmons’s Grantland, Shane Ryan is the perfect herald for the sport’s new age. In Slaying the Tiger, he embeds himself for a season on the PGA Tour, where he finds the game far removed from the genteel rhythms of yesteryear. Instead, he discovers a group of mercurial talents driven to greatness by their fear of failure and their relentless perfectionism. From Augusta to Scotland, with an irreverent and energetic voice, Ryan documents every transcendent moment, every press tent tirade, and every controversy that made the 2014 Tour one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory. Here are indelibly drawn profiles of the game’s young Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish ace who stepped forward as the game’s next superstar; Patrick Reed, a brash, boastful competitor with a warrior’s mentality; Dustin Johnson, the brilliant natural talent whose private habits sabotage his potential; and Jason Day, a resilient Aussie whose hardscrabble beginnings make him the Tour’s ultimate longshot. Here also is the bumptious Bubba Watson, a devout Christian known for his unsportsmanlike outbursts on the golf course; Keegan Bradley, a flinty New Englander who plays with a colossal chip on his shoulder; twenty-one-year-old Jordan Spieth, a preternaturally mature Texan carrying the hopes of the golf establishment; and Rickie Fowler, the humble California kid striving to make his golf speak louder than his bright orange clothes. Bound by their talent, each one hungrier than the last, these players will vie over the coming decade for the right to be called the next king of the game. Golf may be slow to change, but in 2014, the wheels were turning at a feverish pace. Slaying the Tiger offers a dynamic snapshot of a rapidly evolving sport.Praise for Slaying the Tiger“This book is going to be controversial. There is no question about it. . . . It is the most unvarnished view of the tour—the biggest tour in the world—that I’ve ever read. And it’s not close.”—Gary Williams, Golf Channel“A must-read for PGA Tour fans from the casual to the most dedicated . . . This book is certain to be as important to this era as [John] Feinstein’s [A Good Walk Spoiled] was two decades ago. . . . A well-researched, in-depth look at the men who inhabit the highest levels of the game.”—Examiner.com “A masterfully written account of an important time in golf history.”—Adam Fonseca, Golf Unfiltered “Absolutely marvelous . . . Ryan’s writing flows and his reporting turns pages for you.”—Kyle Porter, CBS Sports “A riveting read.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 13, 2015
This is going to sound like a negative review, so let me state from the start that I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed reading things that only someone behind the scenes of the PGA tour would know. But I enjoy golf in general, so learning little-known facts about people I watch all the time is always fun.
That said, this book isn't amazing. Maybe it's that Mr. Ryan (or his editor) does not know the difference between who/whom, sunk/sank, shrunk/shrank and others. Maybe it's because editorial oversights like "Rory shot out his arms out in surprised protest," and "scruff of the next" made their way into the finished product. I questioned myself at one point when reading a list of distinguished golfers and, stumbling upon the name "Sneak," I wondered who that was. No one, I realized. It should have said "Snead." There were plenty of other errors like these. Too many.
The face of golf these days is constantly changing. Anyone who follows it even a little knows of the "parity" all the golf-heads talk about and how that parity has leveled the playing field considerably on the PGA Tour. Rory dominated the end of the 2014 season (chronicled in this book.) But just a few weeks after this book's release, Jordan Spieth is in the driver's seat. The fact that golf is so fickle coupled with the atrocious editing in this book make me wonder if "Slaying the Tiger" was rushed through editing in an effort to keep it from being totally outdated when it was released. Get that thing on the shelves before everything changes again!
It is interesting that Ryan chose to chronicle the 2014 season for this book. He could not have known when he began his expedition whether the results of the 2014 season would bolster or undermine his thesis (that the young guns were overtaking Tiger's dominance.) Bolster they did. But one thing Shane Ryan knew for sure about the 2014 season is that it was a Ryder Cup year. And make no mistake, Ryder Cups sell, no matter your thesis.
The 2014 Ryder Cup ended up providing enough material for an entire book of its own. But why was it in this book? Ryder Cup certainly appeals to golf fans, but here it did nothing to advance the idea of the young guns "slaying the Tiger" - especially given that Tiger wasn't even there. Maybe Tiger's absence was evidence enough. But that doesn't make much of a chapter. So instead, Ryan gave considerable ink to the selection of the captains' picks and the subsequent machinations of Webb Simpson. Why? It had nothing to do with "slaying the Tiger." My hunch is that it's included because it's good gossip that few golf fans have heard before. And that sells books! (As do musings about Watson's leadership style, the details of Team Europe's drunken presser after their win, and the little-reported reactions of team USA to the Mickelson mutiny. They're in here too - for the wrong reasons, if you ask me.)
And what about the curious tenth chapter in which Ryan, throwing thesis to the wind, trashes all things Augusta National? True as his observations may be, why are they in this book? The chapter just doesn't belong. Reading it left me with the sense that Ryan harbors some animosity toward the golf establishment. That, on its own, is fine. I realize that all writers have biases and that a good reader has to be aware of them. But particularly when it comes to biographical sketches, I tend to wonder how reliably authors judge the character of their subjects. The vibe I got from the tenth chapter left me doubtful about whether I could trust Ryan's assessments of the golfers he covered. He seemed sour about the Masters. It wasn't the first time he seemed sour about something (hello, entire state of Florida,) but here he allowed himself a chapter to do nothing more than vent. I had to wonder - what, or who, else was he sour about? If he can't hold the venting in check when it's irrelevant, is he holding it in check at all? And how does that affect the judgment calls he makes about the golfers he covers?
To conclude, I generally enjoyed this book, though I do think it is mis-titled. All things considered, I think Ryan just wanted to write a book where he got to speak plainly about what he's observed behind the scenes of the PGA tour. And I think that he (not even secretly) hoped to put a few nicks in the shiny image of the tour that many people have bought into. Fair enough. However, there is, in my opinion, no excuse for typos and poor grammar. And if the book is really about slaying Tiger, then the inclusion of the Ryder Cup and Augusta chapters were off-topic and come off more like cheap attempts to garner more buzz. Taken together, all of these gave the book the feel of something that was meant to sell rather than to be savored. But overall, the content was interesting. I'm not sure I buy all of Ryan's character assessments, but they were interesting nonetheless. (And I definitely didn't buy the book. Thank you, public library.)
(This review is of the hardcover/library edition of the book.)
That said, this book isn't amazing. Maybe it's that Mr. Ryan (or his editor) does not know the difference between who/whom, sunk/sank, shrunk/shrank and others. Maybe it's because editorial oversights like "Rory shot out his arms out in surprised protest," and "scruff of the next" made their way into the finished product. I questioned myself at one point when reading a list of distinguished golfers and, stumbling upon the name "Sneak," I wondered who that was. No one, I realized. It should have said "Snead." There were plenty of other errors like these. Too many.
The face of golf these days is constantly changing. Anyone who follows it even a little knows of the "parity" all the golf-heads talk about and how that parity has leveled the playing field considerably on the PGA Tour. Rory dominated the end of the 2014 season (chronicled in this book.) But just a few weeks after this book's release, Jordan Spieth is in the driver's seat. The fact that golf is so fickle coupled with the atrocious editing in this book make me wonder if "Slaying the Tiger" was rushed through editing in an effort to keep it from being totally outdated when it was released. Get that thing on the shelves before everything changes again!
It is interesting that Ryan chose to chronicle the 2014 season for this book. He could not have known when he began his expedition whether the results of the 2014 season would bolster or undermine his thesis (that the young guns were overtaking Tiger's dominance.) Bolster they did. But one thing Shane Ryan knew for sure about the 2014 season is that it was a Ryder Cup year. And make no mistake, Ryder Cups sell, no matter your thesis.
The 2014 Ryder Cup ended up providing enough material for an entire book of its own. But why was it in this book? Ryder Cup certainly appeals to golf fans, but here it did nothing to advance the idea of the young guns "slaying the Tiger" - especially given that Tiger wasn't even there. Maybe Tiger's absence was evidence enough. But that doesn't make much of a chapter. So instead, Ryan gave considerable ink to the selection of the captains' picks and the subsequent machinations of Webb Simpson. Why? It had nothing to do with "slaying the Tiger." My hunch is that it's included because it's good gossip that few golf fans have heard before. And that sells books! (As do musings about Watson's leadership style, the details of Team Europe's drunken presser after their win, and the little-reported reactions of team USA to the Mickelson mutiny. They're in here too - for the wrong reasons, if you ask me.)
And what about the curious tenth chapter in which Ryan, throwing thesis to the wind, trashes all things Augusta National? True as his observations may be, why are they in this book? The chapter just doesn't belong. Reading it left me with the sense that Ryan harbors some animosity toward the golf establishment. That, on its own, is fine. I realize that all writers have biases and that a good reader has to be aware of them. But particularly when it comes to biographical sketches, I tend to wonder how reliably authors judge the character of their subjects. The vibe I got from the tenth chapter left me doubtful about whether I could trust Ryan's assessments of the golfers he covered. He seemed sour about the Masters. It wasn't the first time he seemed sour about something (hello, entire state of Florida,) but here he allowed himself a chapter to do nothing more than vent. I had to wonder - what, or who, else was he sour about? If he can't hold the venting in check when it's irrelevant, is he holding it in check at all? And how does that affect the judgment calls he makes about the golfers he covers?
To conclude, I generally enjoyed this book, though I do think it is mis-titled. All things considered, I think Ryan just wanted to write a book where he got to speak plainly about what he's observed behind the scenes of the PGA tour. And I think that he (not even secretly) hoped to put a few nicks in the shiny image of the tour that many people have bought into. Fair enough. However, there is, in my opinion, no excuse for typos and poor grammar. And if the book is really about slaying Tiger, then the inclusion of the Ryder Cup and Augusta chapters were off-topic and come off more like cheap attempts to garner more buzz. Taken together, all of these gave the book the feel of something that was meant to sell rather than to be savored. But overall, the content was interesting. I'm not sure I buy all of Ryan's character assessments, but they were interesting nonetheless. (And I definitely didn't buy the book. Thank you, public library.)
(This review is of the hardcover/library edition of the book.)
January 8, 2018
Shane Ryan’s subtitle is accurate, but unfortunately, the rationale for the title is convoluted. Due to injuries, Tiger Woods did not really have a presence on the tour in 2014; and, if the tiger is not fighting back, he is not really slain. “Golf’s New Needle Movers” would be a more accurate title. I understand that this would probably not sell as many books as “Slaying the Tiger,” but it appears that the author’s goal is more about selling books than being accurate. And the references to “golf’s great white hope” make it seem that the author is trying too hard to develop a contrived theme that does not add anything to the book.
In his Acknowledgments, Mr. Ryan profusely thanks his editors for all of the help provided. I am surprised to read that he used editors because of all of the factual errors, typographical errors, and the uneven writing style.
Among the many factual errors are the following:
• In chapter 13, the reference to Martin Kaymer’s playoff in the 2010 PGA Championship states that the 18th hole was a par 5 when it was a par 4.
• In chapter 26, European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley, who is from Ireland, is described as being from Northern Ireland. As the author points out in chapter 18, there is a difference.
• Chapter 26 also states that Jordan Spieth missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole of his match with Graeme McDowell. I was there and still remember Spieth three-putting for a bogey from about 40 feet.
One could argue that these and the other errors are trivial, but they make the reader wonder how many other factual errors the book contains and how many of the author’s controversial conclusions are based upon faulty facts.
The book does contain some insightful revelations and thought-provoking opinions, and Mr. Ryan shows some literary skill with terms like “sui generis” and descriptive phrases about the geography. The writing quality is also elevated when he borrows a line from the powerful Dylan Thomas poem, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,” in describing the 2014 Accenture Match Play tournament, “Instead, against all odds, the lame duck tournament raged against the dying of the light.”
But, in much of the book, his writing skill abandons him. Some readers might like his style, but similes such as “wild as hell” and "fighting like hell” and vocabulary such as the f-dud are not very creative or descriptive. His similes would be a bit more sui generis if they did not all use the word “hell.”
Mr. Ryan seems to be bitter about not being able to interview Bubba Watson and criticizes him for being a hypocrite with a massive ego. And, although he works hard to support these accusations, they are still not convincing. One criticism of Watson is his refusal to participate in the practice round long driving contest at Valhalla. Watson realized he made a mistake, graciously apologized for it, and thanked the people who pointed it out. Mr. Ryan cites Bubba Watson’s encouraging Ryder Cup crowds to cheer while he hit his first hole tee shots as an example of his ego. I was at Medinah and Gleneagles when Watson (as well as Ian Poulter) encouraged these deviations from normal golf etiquette, and it was my perception that he was trying to encourage the crowd to be supportive of the American team and there was little or no ego involved. Bubba Watson is a Christian and is not ashamed to share Bible verses with people. Mr. Ryan seems to think that, because of his religious convictions, Watson should never swear or lose his temper. Watson is the first to admit that he makes mistakes. Well, maybe the second – it appears that Mr. Ryan is the first.
In his Acknowledgments, Mr. Ryan profusely thanks his editors for all of the help provided. I am surprised to read that he used editors because of all of the factual errors, typographical errors, and the uneven writing style.
Among the many factual errors are the following:
• In chapter 13, the reference to Martin Kaymer’s playoff in the 2010 PGA Championship states that the 18th hole was a par 5 when it was a par 4.
• In chapter 26, European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley, who is from Ireland, is described as being from Northern Ireland. As the author points out in chapter 18, there is a difference.
• Chapter 26 also states that Jordan Spieth missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole of his match with Graeme McDowell. I was there and still remember Spieth three-putting for a bogey from about 40 feet.
One could argue that these and the other errors are trivial, but they make the reader wonder how many other factual errors the book contains and how many of the author’s controversial conclusions are based upon faulty facts.
The book does contain some insightful revelations and thought-provoking opinions, and Mr. Ryan shows some literary skill with terms like “sui generis” and descriptive phrases about the geography. The writing quality is also elevated when he borrows a line from the powerful Dylan Thomas poem, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,” in describing the 2014 Accenture Match Play tournament, “Instead, against all odds, the lame duck tournament raged against the dying of the light.”
But, in much of the book, his writing skill abandons him. Some readers might like his style, but similes such as “wild as hell” and "fighting like hell” and vocabulary such as the f-dud are not very creative or descriptive. His similes would be a bit more sui generis if they did not all use the word “hell.”
Mr. Ryan seems to be bitter about not being able to interview Bubba Watson and criticizes him for being a hypocrite with a massive ego. And, although he works hard to support these accusations, they are still not convincing. One criticism of Watson is his refusal to participate in the practice round long driving contest at Valhalla. Watson realized he made a mistake, graciously apologized for it, and thanked the people who pointed it out. Mr. Ryan cites Bubba Watson’s encouraging Ryder Cup crowds to cheer while he hit his first hole tee shots as an example of his ego. I was at Medinah and Gleneagles when Watson (as well as Ian Poulter) encouraged these deviations from normal golf etiquette, and it was my perception that he was trying to encourage the crowd to be supportive of the American team and there was little or no ego involved. Bubba Watson is a Christian and is not ashamed to share Bible verses with people. Mr. Ryan seems to think that, because of his religious convictions, Watson should never swear or lose his temper. Watson is the first to admit that he makes mistakes. Well, maybe the second – it appears that Mr. Ryan is the first.
August 22, 2018
This book appealed to me as potentially the next generation’s “A Good Walk Spoiled”. It follows some up-and-coming young stars in the PGA Tour for a year. Author Shane Ryan shared some interesting insights into the next generation, striving to fill the void left by Tiger Woods as the most dominant golfer of their era. In that respect, the book fulfilled my expectations. But it is no successor to John Feinstein’s classic.
Ryan spends a good portion of the book belly-aching about his destinations and his subjects. About the first third of the book is pretty much non-stop negativity. I thought to myself that if I were his agent reading this initial offering, I’d probably put Ryan in suicide watch. He hates all things Florida, especially Orlando, and we hear him whine about how miserable it is to cover the first portion of the Tour in that detestable State. He has almost nothing positive to say about most of the golfers he covers in this portion of the book: Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Patrick Reed (okay, I’ll spot him this one), Jordan Spieth (moody, immature), Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, ... the list goes on. He trashes Augusta — both the town and the golf course, especially the course’s history. I’m not excusing the boorish behavior of Augusta National’s past leadership, but let’s try for some balance. At least find SOMETHING positive, somewhere, to share with reader, ... please!
As the book moves forward, Ryan’s attitude improves marginally. But there is no character flaw or misstep that Ryan is willing to overlook, or in most cases, to ferret out. He speaks well of Rory McIlroy (for the most part) and Ricky Fowler. But he bashes Webb Simpson and Tom Watson’s leadership of the Ryder Cup as though Watson was an evil villain trying to destroy the US team. (Granted, Watson made some serious errors, but Ryan gives him no quarter and is mercilessly scathing in his criticism.)
In the end, I found this book more of a snarky tabloid than the next installment of a classic work on golf’s next generation of great players. It definitely has some insights and behind-the-scenes looks at life on the Tour. But I did not need to see, much less examine, all the dirty laundry — private family struggles in particular. (If Victor Dubuisson ever reads this book, any hope his family may have for a reconciliation is OVER.) Just because something is true and is a “real scoop” doesn’t mean it has to be written or reported. I found aspects of the book interesting and enlightening, but by about the midpoint, I was ready for the book to end. Instead of “A Good Walk Spoiled”, I found this book to be closer to “a good read spoiled”.
I still recommend it for golf fans, but w/ reservations.
Ryan spends a good portion of the book belly-aching about his destinations and his subjects. About the first third of the book is pretty much non-stop negativity. I thought to myself that if I were his agent reading this initial offering, I’d probably put Ryan in suicide watch. He hates all things Florida, especially Orlando, and we hear him whine about how miserable it is to cover the first portion of the Tour in that detestable State. He has almost nothing positive to say about most of the golfers he covers in this portion of the book: Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Patrick Reed (okay, I’ll spot him this one), Jordan Spieth (moody, immature), Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, ... the list goes on. He trashes Augusta — both the town and the golf course, especially the course’s history. I’m not excusing the boorish behavior of Augusta National’s past leadership, but let’s try for some balance. At least find SOMETHING positive, somewhere, to share with reader, ... please!
As the book moves forward, Ryan’s attitude improves marginally. But there is no character flaw or misstep that Ryan is willing to overlook, or in most cases, to ferret out. He speaks well of Rory McIlroy (for the most part) and Ricky Fowler. But he bashes Webb Simpson and Tom Watson’s leadership of the Ryder Cup as though Watson was an evil villain trying to destroy the US team. (Granted, Watson made some serious errors, but Ryan gives him no quarter and is mercilessly scathing in his criticism.)
In the end, I found this book more of a snarky tabloid than the next installment of a classic work on golf’s next generation of great players. It definitely has some insights and behind-the-scenes looks at life on the Tour. But I did not need to see, much less examine, all the dirty laundry — private family struggles in particular. (If Victor Dubuisson ever reads this book, any hope his family may have for a reconciliation is OVER.) Just because something is true and is a “real scoop” doesn’t mean it has to be written or reported. I found aspects of the book interesting and enlightening, but by about the midpoint, I was ready for the book to end. Instead of “A Good Walk Spoiled”, I found this book to be closer to “a good read spoiled”.
I still recommend it for golf fans, but w/ reservations.
January 16, 2016
I orginally picked up this book because 2 of my favorite players held 3 of the 4 majors and the Players' Championship in 2014. Overall, I enjoyed Mr. Ryan's analysis and opinions. However, someone should have checked his facts. He used the wrong name for Jose Maria Olazabal, and he missed Rory McIlroy's birth year in the sentence where he stated Mr. McIlroy's age. Those are just a few of the mistakes I noticed. I did enjoy the book though. Mr. Ryan allows the reader to get to know players who might not be as recognized as others, which was a wonderful surprise. I would definitely recommend reading for golfers.
September 11, 2015
Honestly, I don't even like golf. I go to one tournament a year. It's a big one, but I can't think of what it's called. Anyway, I go, and I never have a golfer that I care about, but after reading this book, I do. It's a really good way to start caring about golf, and next year when I go that tournament, I can confidently say that I will be cheering for my boy, Matt Every.
Conversely, it is also really good to find out which golfers you hate. Patrick Reed, I'm looking in your direction.
Conversely, it is also really good to find out which golfers you hate. Patrick Reed, I'm looking in your direction.
August 2, 2015
Decent, quick, informative read. Sometimes the author's cynicism was over the top and his irreverence seemed forced.
February 22, 2016
A truly great look into the next generation of golfers who will pick up where Tiger Woods left off. Shane Ryan's journalistic work dives deep into the lives of the next great golfers.
December 20, 2019
The author seemed to have an agenda against many American golfers. Seemed more like an agenda with a “hit list” than chronically the up and comers.
July 25, 2018
Loved this book. A lot of reviews complain that the author is, at times, too "cynical." However, I appreciate that. I wanted an untarnished, realistic view of the young guns on the tour, for good or bad, and that's what the author provides in this book. I wanted to know their personalities, their strengths, their weaknesses, their problems, their mindset, etc. If a guy is a jerk, I wanted to read about it. If I guy is a great person, I wanted to read about it. I don't understand the reviews of this book as "cynical." I appreciated the honesty that the author provides. This book was a page turner, at least to me (a pretty avid golf fan). I would definitely recommend to anyone that is a golfer or golf fan.
December 2, 2025
As a golf fan, Ryan can be a bit “uppity” at points. But the more I got into the book the more I found myself wanting that edge. The biggest point was an entire chapter dedicated to the claim that Augusta National, and the Masters, wasn’t all that great. Which I can understand as a viewpoint, and resonated with some of his arguments, but I do think it’s essentially a hot take for the purpose of “clicks.”
However, that brashness really drew me in to the narrative. It can be hard to make a simple “year on tour” book as page turning as Ryan is able to do.
However, that brashness really drew me in to the narrative. It can be hard to make a simple “year on tour” book as page turning as Ryan is able to do.
January 16, 2019
Detailed and informative
Great insight into the locker rooms and backstories not often exposed on the PGA. Especially interesting now that it is some years later knowing how the progression of these 2014 young guys and newbies have gone.
Great insight into the locker rooms and backstories not often exposed on the PGA. Especially interesting now that it is some years later knowing how the progression of these 2014 young guys and newbies have gone.
May 15, 2019
Interesting Perspective to Learn About
Having read this 5 years after the season it is based on and in a world where Tiger is the 2019 Masters champ definitely influenced my opinion of this book. Overall, I did enjoy it and recommend you read it if you're a golf nut like me.
Having read this 5 years after the season it is based on and in a world where Tiger is the 2019 Masters champ definitely influenced my opinion of this book. Overall, I did enjoy it and recommend you read it if you're a golf nut like me.
December 11, 2020
A good read for golf enthusiasts who know the popular players. A candid look inside what the PGA really is promoting and why. An up close insight to the personalities of many of the top golfers. Not that specific about any one golfer including Tiger Woods, so the title is somewhat misleading.
May 27, 2022
Could not enjoy this book for a moment. The author seemed to have an unnatural aversion to the state of Florida that probably requires therapy. He never really demonstrated an understanding of either human nature or the game of golf.
May 30, 2017
Interesting profiles of young golfing stars
October 17, 2017
Amazing read - excellent insights into life on the tour. Maybe better than a good walk spoiled.
January 29, 2018
A great review of the 2014 PGA season but even more, it's a look inside at the up and coming golfers that year that dominate the tour today. An excellent read for any PGA tour fan.
May 9, 2018
Excellent account, interesting, almost-insider tale. And mostly proven right, as several of the portrayed players have continued to dominate the game. Recommended.
September 8, 2018
If you like golf, read this. Even if you don't, read it.
April 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I am attempting to get into golf and it was fun to learn about a lot of the stars on tour.
February 9, 2020
Enjoyable, easy read, great holiday book.
April 11, 2020
Ryan balances a clear passion for golf with a level-headed view of its players, its totems, and its power brokers. Great detail, and holds up six years later.
September 10, 2020
Fascinating book. Lots of insight. Spectacular reporting.
December 11, 2021
Brilliant stuff. I love this type of book and this is amongst the best of the genre
November 21, 2022
Interesting stories but the author has some VERY strong opinions that make the reader unsure of whether it is fact or fiction. But entertaining and enlightening nonetheless.
April 12, 2016
While I'm not a golf fan, I do love books about the human side of sports triumphs. Ryan's book about the 2014 PGA tour season and the rising stars running at the heels of the formidable Tiger Woods is worth the read. Though Ryan is a novice to the world of golf reporting, something he makes no secret of, he masterfully gets inside the heads of some of men's golf's rising stars (at the time Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, etc.) What makes the book so interesting is the fact that Ryan doesn't only cover the most important events of the PGA tour and the FedEx Cup, it's that he also gives you the backstory on the clubs, courses and golfers themselves. The chapter of the snobbery surrounding Augusta National is particularly memorable. While the book focuses on young golfers-golfers who have grown up idolizing Tiger-there is also plenty of room left over for golfers who are young, but already massive stars in their own right (think Rory McIlory or Bubba Watson.) Even if you know nothing about golf, the book is worth a read simply for a lot of the outsized personalities and some of the human interest stories, a couple of which are truly moving (Jason Day's backstory of growing up a poor, half-Filipino kid whose late father (he died of cancer when Jason was 12) taught him to play golf with a club he found in garbage dump is particularly powerful.)
July 25, 2015
A great read for PGA Tour fans. Everything I've read by Ryan (non-golf topics included) includes really exceptionally beautiful passages style-wise mixed with the conversational tone that makes it an easy and quick read.
Regarding criticisms of the book, Ryan makes it clear that he's providing his insights and opinions based on his experiences. You can be a journalist and also have a point of view. The fact that the author was not a seasoned golf journalist prior to writing the book actually makes it more interesting in my opinion.
The only part of the book that I did not enjoy was the descriptions of the tournament action itself. I guess it's needed for some context, but those passages I tended to skim over to get back to the sections on the personalities and their life stories.
I'd love to read the chapter on religion on Tour that was left out of the book.
Ryan's also a great Twitter follow.
Regarding criticisms of the book, Ryan makes it clear that he's providing his insights and opinions based on his experiences. You can be a journalist and also have a point of view. The fact that the author was not a seasoned golf journalist prior to writing the book actually makes it more interesting in my opinion.
The only part of the book that I did not enjoy was the descriptions of the tournament action itself. I guess it's needed for some context, but those passages I tended to skim over to get back to the sections on the personalities and their life stories.
I'd love to read the chapter on religion on Tour that was left out of the book.
Ryan's also a great Twitter follow.
June 3, 2016
Shane Ryan ' s "Slaying The Tiger" is a well rounded book about the PGA Tour in the year 2014 and beyond. It absolutely is reminiscent of John Feinstein's "A Good Walk Spoiled." That is not to be taken as a bad thing. When Tiger Woods' golf demise is complete---it seems to be now---fans of the game will look back at this era and recognize it as the changing of the guard. Ryan encapsulates this in the here and now. So while this is a solid read in the present, it should have added value several years in the future. Sound writing and reporting. I think James Dodson, Kevin Cook and Mark Frost are better storytellers than Ryan as far as the sport goes. Yet I am impressed with Ryan and I would read something else from him in this genre in the future.
October 5, 2016
Shane Ryan will have a difficult time following up on this extremely interesting dissection of the 2014 golf season. Why? Because I have a hard time imagining any golfer willing to talk to him again. The author pulls no punches. He's prepared to label players as buffoons and hypocrites without hesitation. He isn't afraid to point out the racism associated with the history of Augusta. He gives his opinions the way you wish all commentators would. You may not agree with what you're reading, but you'll be entertained. All this while delving into the early lives of his subjects so as to provide a better understanding of how they became who they are.
Note: you need to a golf fan and know the players to get the most from this book.
Note: you need to a golf fan and know the players to get the most from this book.
November 12, 2019
If you are a golf dork like me, you'll LOVE It. My only complaint is a small one - I'm not sure author Shane Ryan followed much golf before it was his job (I think he says as much). It doesn't much matter but there are some things he doesn't explain (what a 'standard bearer' is on the course, etc.) and in a later chapter, when talking about Tom Watson's performance as Ryder Cup captain, I personally felt he didn't afford this legend as much respect as he should have. Despite that, it's a great account of a year on tour, following the new names that are starting to dominate, as well as keeping track of Tiger. Very timely, and a great read.
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