Into the Bear Pit: The Hard-hitting Inside Story of the Brookline Ryder Cup

by Mark James (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2000

  $3.25

  Sunday 26 September 1999. The 17th green at Brookline Country Club near Boston, Massachusetts. It's the closing stages of the 33rd Ryder Cup tournament and the USA and Europe have been battling it out for three days. Then American Justin Leonard holes a monster 45-foot birdie putt and, before his opponent - Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal - has the opportunity to prepare for his own putt, all hell breaks loose. As Leonard's ball drops, American players, caddies, wives, even officials prematurely invade the green in triumph, in the belief that Leonard's putt has just delivered the prize they have been craving. Olazabal still has a putt to keep the Ryder Cup alive, but by this stage several jubilant Americans have already run straight across his line, destroying his concentration in the process. When he eventually is permitted to take his putt, Olazabal inevitably misses. Sir Michael Bonallack, secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and guardian of golf's rules and etiquette, likened the scenes to a bear pit . But, the disgraceful episode on the 17th green constituted only one skirmish in what has become known as the Battle of Brookline . In this volume, European team captain Mark James has chosen to speak out, to give a hard-hitting, blow-by-blow account of the tournament that made the headlines around the globe. His story lifts the lid on events that were not reported at the time, providing answers to the key questions surrounding one of the most controversial stories in golfing history.

• Used

  Paperback
  2001

  $3.25

  Into the Bear Pit is the most talked about sports book for years. Throughout the summer of 2000, Mark James's inside story of the Brookline Ryder Cup was never out of the sports headlines and took up a lengthy residence in the upper reaches of the Sunday Times' bestseller list. Fuelled by a media feeding frenzy, the controversy rapidly gathered enormous momentum and eventually led to James's resignation as one of Sam Torrence's assistants for the 2001 Ryder Cup at Belfry. Read about Mark James's rocky relationships with Nick Faldo and Tony Jacklin and the infamous disposal of Faldo's good luck letter. Read about the extraordinary behaviour of American Players, wives, officials and spectators during the 'Battle of Brookline'. Read the most explosive golf book ever published.