The Story of Golf in 50 Tournaments

Thousands of professional tournaments have been played since the mid 1800s, but only a handful truly shaped the game. Tony Dear picks out fifty and uses each to tell the larger story: Francis Ouimet's 1913 U.S. Open win and what it did for golf in America, Bobby Jones's Grand Slam in 1930, Nicklaus's comeback at the 1986 Masters, Tiger Woods's six consecutive USGA titles won at match play. The great duels are here too, Watson against Nicklaus, Joyce Wethered against Glenna Collett, and Ryder Cups from the War by the Shore to Medinah in 2012.

Alongside the famous moments sit lesser-known performances that changed the rules, launched careers or created new corners of the professional game. It is a rich history for the clubhouse regular, and clear enough for someone who has never held a club.