The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf FROM OUR EDITORS
In 1913, British golfer Harry Vardon, the Tiger Woods of his day, encountered an unexpected roadblock to winning the 1913 U.S. Open: an unknown 20-year-old American amateur named Francis Ouimet. Nobody was more surprised than Ouimet himself: The former caddie from the wrong side of the tracks had entered the match mainly to catch a few glimpses of Vardon, his hero. Instead, the young Massachusetts golfer matched Vardon and his British colleague Ted Ray stroke by stroke, round by round. At the end of 72 holes, the three golfers were tied, necessitating a playoff. Award-winning writer Mark Frost tells the story of "the greatest game ever played" as it's never been told before.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet came from different worlds and different generations, but their passion for golf set them on parallel paths that would collide in the most spectacular match their sport has ever known. Through hard work, courage, and determination, Vardon had escaped a hopeless life of poverty in Britain to achieve universal recognition as the greatest champion in the game's long and storied history. Ouimet, a virtual unknown from Massachusetts, was only three years removed from his youthful career as a lowly caddie. He worshiped Vardon, a man twice his age, innovator of the modern grip and swing, daring only to dream of following in his hero's footsteps." "When these two unlikely opponents finally came together in their legendary battle at the 1913 U.S. Open, the world's reaction to its remarkable drama and heartstopping climax gave rise to the sport of golf as we know it today." Weaving together the stories of Vardon and Ouimet to create his narrative, Mark Frost has crafted a uniquely involving, intimate epic; equal parts sports biography, sweeping social history, and emotional human drama.
FROM THE CRITICS
Scott Turow
Anyone who loves gold, history, or just a great story will relish this wonderful book.
Ken Venturi
I am a traditionalist and if you are a traditionalist, you will enjoy this book. It will give you great insight into how golf got its start in America, and the man who really introduced golf to America: Francis Ouimet.
Gary McCord
Put on a pair of soft slippers and get into your favorite chair. You are about to drift back to the era of gutties and wooden shafts. Mark Frost made me sit down and stay put as golf history comes to conversational life in this very entertaining book.
Billy Crystal
This is one of the best sports books I have ever read. If I had known there was this much excitement in golf I would have started playing earlier.
Ben Crenshaw
The story of the 1913 U.S. Open at Brookline needed to be told again, especially today, and Mark Frost has done a wonderful job of capturing the moment of golf's awakening in America. His work is thoroughly researched and he has brought out the characters splendidly — as well as the excitement of young Francis Ouimet's victory.
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