The upcoming Ryder Cup again will inspire all sorts of reverential rhetoric. Golf treats all of its big events in a sacred, almost religious tone.
Not surprisingly, David Feherty decided to take a different approach with his new book, “David Feherty’s Totally Subjective History of the Ryder Cup.” The cover suggests you don’t need to play bagpipe music while reading it.
Feherty poses with the Ryder Cup in a jacket and bow tie. However, he forgot an important part of his ensemble: his pants. If it takes courage to play in a Ryder Cup, it also takes courage to expose yourself on bookshelves wearing red and white plaid boxer shorts.
If the sight of Feherty’s knobby knees doesn’t scare you, consider picking up the book. It is a respectful, yet highly irreverent look at the Ryder Cup.
The unconventional CBS golf analyst took the historical research James A. Frank had compiled and put his own unique Irish spin on it.
Feherty writes, “History tells us that you’ll get nothing out of fighting Europe except better chocolate, more expensive wine and, of course, ownership of France.”
In an interview, Feherty said he actually thought of playing it straight, but quickly abandoned the notion. The humor and off-color comments are in the variety of uncut HBO.
“I started off with a conventional approach, but after a few chapters I realized, `God, this is boring,'” Feherty said. “Instead, I took the classical approach to history and started making it up.”
Feherty and Frank offer a comprehensive look at how the Ryder Cup evolved from U.S. dominance (it won 19 of the first 22 matches over Britain) to the warlike atmosphere when continental Europe became involved in 1979.
“Few respecting professional golfers would descend to the level of gamesmanship often described in the following pages if they were competing against each for actual cash,” Feherty writes. “When a man pulls on a team sweater, some kind of primeval swarm mentality kicks in.”
Feherty called playing in the Ryder Cup, “the high temple of stress.” He experienced it only once, playing in the 1991 event, perhaps the most pressure-packed ever.
Feherty recalled nerves nearly suffocating him on the first tee at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.
“This might be the biggest opportunity you’ll ever have to make a huge fool out of yourself,” Feherty said.
Feherty, though, quickly realized he hardly was the only player to experience those feelings. Seve Ballesteros, one of the ultimate Ryder Cuppers, grabbed him by the shoulder before the matches.
“He asked me, `Are you nervous?'” Feherty said. “I said, `Yeah.’ He said, `Me too.'”
The fear of failure, of letting down the team, actually spurred Feherty to play solid golf. He was 1-1-1, defeating then-U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart in singles.
“I think I was too frightened to play badly,” Feherty said.
The United States, though, took a one-point victory in what was the defining Ryder Cup of the modern era. The matches since have become one of the most anticipated events in the game.
Feherty said he would give anything to be playing for Europe when the Ryder Cup begins Sept. 17 at Oakland Hills. He even would love to be there as an analyst. Alas, NBC is doing the broadcast.
For all his joking, Feherty has an unabashed love for the Ryder Cup.
“It’s the biggest rush there is,” Feherty said. “Being around it, you just feel like blood brothers. I’d play again in a heartbeat.”
George and I
Feherty wasn’t pleased to hear that I’m in his book. On Page 296, there’s a picture of former President George H.W. Bush surrounded by Amy Mickelson (Phil’s wife) and Melissa Lehman (Tom’s wife). I’m seated next to Amy.
The shot occurred in the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama in Spain. During the Saturday matches, Bush parked himself just off the 17th green. Figuring this might be my only opportunity ever to talk to a former president, I sidled up next to him. John Hopkins of the Times of London joined us.
Because the next match was on the 14th hole, and because Bush didn’t seem in a hurry to go anywhere, we talked for 45 minutes. Exceedingly friendly, he told some golf stories. Feeling bold, I asked how the Tribune treated him while he was in office.
“I can’t think of anything bad, so it must have been OK,” Bush said.
With his Masters socks dirty from walking the wet course, Bush had been hanging around the green to congratulate an American pairing after a victory. When the Mickelson-Lehman duo finally arrived at 17, I got out of the way as their wives sat next to Bush, holding his hands.
Bush never got the chance to celebrate. The Americans posted a mere half-point during that portion of the matches, which led to their eventual loss.
Even though I never voted for him, spending 45 minutes with Bush was a memory I’ll never forget.
