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Chasing the Legends: The Rise of the Young Guns in Golf
It has been 17 years since John Feinstein’s seminal golfing classic A Good Walk Spoiled. In that time the PGA has undergone a huge change and we are now in the midst of a full-blown revolution. In the past 16 major championships, 11 winners have been 33 or younger, and most of those were still in their ‘20s.
A talented crop of young golfers with big personalities are trying to wrench the game from legends like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els, and they’re bringing a new, Internet-savvy fan base along for the ride. Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, and Justin Rose are just a few of the names putting themselves forward as potential torchbearers for the next surge of transcendent champions.
There is no doubt that 2014 will be their year. With the Ryder Cup looming, Tiger almost back to his best and Mcllroy desperate to recover from his tailspin, Shane Ryan, who covers golf for ESPN-backed Grantland, will tell the story of year on the PGA from the perspective of the dozen leading contenders and shine the brightest light on the Tour. What he will reveal is the warts and all of the modern game, the ferocity of the competition, the hatred that frequently boils over between the players, and just what the Americans think of Ian Poulter’s trousers, never mind that he almost single-handedly orchestrated the Miracle at Medinah in matching fuchsia top and shoes.
By the end of 2014, the landscape of World golf will look very different. Shane Ryan’s Chasing the Legends will provide the first and definitive story of how it happened – the winners and the losers and how this will affect the locker-room hierarchy for years to come.
A talented crop of young golfers with big personalities are trying to wrench the game from legends like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els, and they’re bringing a new, Internet-savvy fan base along for the ride. Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, and Justin Rose are just a few of the names putting themselves forward as potential torchbearers for the next surge of transcendent champions.
There is no doubt that 2014 will be their year. With the Ryder Cup looming, Tiger almost back to his best and Mcllroy desperate to recover from his tailspin, Shane Ryan, who covers golf for ESPN-backed Grantland, will tell the story of year on the PGA from the perspective of the dozen leading contenders and shine the brightest light on the Tour. What he will reveal is the warts and all of the modern game, the ferocity of the competition, the hatred that frequently boils over between the players, and just what the Americans think of Ian Poulter’s trousers, never mind that he almost single-handedly orchestrated the Miracle at Medinah in matching fuchsia top and shoes.
By the end of 2014, the landscape of World golf will look very different. Shane Ryan’s Chasing the Legends will provide the first and definitive story of how it happened – the winners and the losers and how this will affect the locker-room hierarchy for years to come.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2015
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 13, 2016
I wanted to read this book because I want to know what it feels and what it is like to be on the PGA tour from a different angle. I've heard it from the pros but now I know what it is like from when you're on the side lines watching and recording and getting that 30 second interview you have dreamed of. Even tough you aren't playing you are getting closer and closer to your dream. Shane Ryan has explored behind the the ropes of the PGA tour and what it is like to be a pro and how different players are on and off the course. Hopefully one day I could do just that.
Shane Ryan talks about many different golfers in this book and all of their unique and different styles on and off the course. The player I found most interesting was Victor Dubuisson, he is known by fans as a very quiet and shy sort of guy that doesn't interact with the crowd or media, but there is more to him than just that. This is what I love about this book as you can really explore through different professionals and how they are so much different then you think they are on TV. Dubuisson goes about his business very quietly and doesn't share any details about his personal life. He doesn't like the cameras very much, he mutters his way through interviews and tries to give the shortest answers as possible. 'He muttered his way through a few questions, mentioned that he hit some terrible shots.' Pg 60. According to some reports Victor left school when he was ten and just played golf. His parents split up when Victor was a young boy and Victor found it very hard as he was avert sensitive boy. To this day Victor doesn't have contact with his parents and his father is deeply sad and depressed that he doesn't get to see his son perform at the top level. He's had anger issues in the past and doesn't really know how to deal with a bad shot sometimes. I felt that Victor Dubuisson was a very intriguing character to learn about, with his eccentric style and the quiet ways he goes about things.
My favourite quote from this book would be 'This game...seems like the harder I try, the harder it is.' Russell Henley. This is so true I've been playing golf for years now and I've learnt that sometimes you have got to stop swinging as hard as you can and make sensible choices. It is a brutal game and it can really play on your mind but sometimes the best thing to do is just laugh or simply forget about everything and focus on the next shot.
I have learnt that all golfers are different in their own way, whether it's from how they dress or their off course antics. 'Dressed all in white, his long hair trailing out the back of his visor.' Pg 13. That's just some of the stuff pros like to get up to. Every one has their own identity and sometimes you have to remember know one is like you. I play cricket and golf, some people think that they are the two most boring sports in the world. But really it's about what you enjoy and no one else. Every body has their own opinion and what they feel about their sport or style. I have my own identity and I own it.
Shane Ryan talks about many different golfers in this book and all of their unique and different styles on and off the course. The player I found most interesting was Victor Dubuisson, he is known by fans as a very quiet and shy sort of guy that doesn't interact with the crowd or media, but there is more to him than just that. This is what I love about this book as you can really explore through different professionals and how they are so much different then you think they are on TV. Dubuisson goes about his business very quietly and doesn't share any details about his personal life. He doesn't like the cameras very much, he mutters his way through interviews and tries to give the shortest answers as possible. 'He muttered his way through a few questions, mentioned that he hit some terrible shots.' Pg 60. According to some reports Victor left school when he was ten and just played golf. His parents split up when Victor was a young boy and Victor found it very hard as he was avert sensitive boy. To this day Victor doesn't have contact with his parents and his father is deeply sad and depressed that he doesn't get to see his son perform at the top level. He's had anger issues in the past and doesn't really know how to deal with a bad shot sometimes. I felt that Victor Dubuisson was a very intriguing character to learn about, with his eccentric style and the quiet ways he goes about things.
My favourite quote from this book would be 'This game...seems like the harder I try, the harder it is.' Russell Henley. This is so true I've been playing golf for years now and I've learnt that sometimes you have got to stop swinging as hard as you can and make sensible choices. It is a brutal game and it can really play on your mind but sometimes the best thing to do is just laugh or simply forget about everything and focus on the next shot.
I have learnt that all golfers are different in their own way, whether it's from how they dress or their off course antics. 'Dressed all in white, his long hair trailing out the back of his visor.' Pg 13. That's just some of the stuff pros like to get up to. Every one has their own identity and sometimes you have to remember know one is like you. I play cricket and golf, some people think that they are the two most boring sports in the world. But really it's about what you enjoy and no one else. Every body has their own opinion and what they feel about their sport or style. I have my own identity and I own it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review