The War by the Shore

Alex Jenkins talks to best-selling author Curt Sampson about his latest book – The War By The Shore – which takes us behind the scenes of the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island. Remembered as one of the most controversial yet absorbing events in the modern era, it was won by the United States after Bernhard Langer missed a six-foot putt on the final green that would have retained the Cup for Europe.

The pressure was enormous for everyone involved but for the Cup to come down to that final match between Hale Irwin and Bernhard Langer, with the tension and atmosphere as it was – that was almost unfair, wasn't it?

That's one of the things I love to look at. At what point does something that you practice to the point of instinct become impossible to do? When does the pressure get too much? I think it's a fascinating subject. I don't think I broke any scientific ground in the book but the 1991 Ryder Cup was a wonderful laboratory for choking and pressure.

What effect did the events of 1991 have on the Ryder Cup in the long term?

Well, Dave Stockton wanted the captaincy job again but the PGA of America passed him over in favour of Tom Watson. Watson's theme for 1993 sounds like a US political campaign slogan – he wanted a return to civility. He was talking about a lowering of pressure. He wanted a calmer event with the focus on sportsmanship.

The War By The Shore, which goes on sale this month, is published by Gotham Books and is available in hardcover and digital formats from online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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Written by Alex Jenkins

Photography by Getty Images

Click here to see the published article.

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