Brian Cox provides an overview of the history of the Ryder Cup, from its original inception in 1927 when the USA played the original British team, all the way through to its current carnation of Europe vs America. He also provides detailed profiles of Ireland's Ryder Cup heroes throughout history.

Explores the origins of golf in Ireland, including the legendary courses and players of this hugely popular sport.

Beginning with Fred Daly, Ireland's first competitor who played in 1947, and progressing to various participants, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, this work covers two generations of proud sporting achievement by Irish professional golfers.

Maybe the game of golf wasnt invented in Ireland but to most visitors it seems that way. After all, there are more golf courses per square mile in Ireland than in any part of the world. A golfing visit to Ireland will be the trip of a lifetime for many reasons. First, links courses sparkle like an emerald necklace around the coastline of Ireland. It is subjective to pick the best from so many great courses but here are a few: Royal Portrush, Portstewart. Royal County Down, Baltray, Portmarnock, The European Club, Old Head, Waterville, Ballybunion, Tralee, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Connemara, Carne, Enniscrone, Murvagh, Ballyliffin and Rosapenna. Second, the past two decades have brought world class resorts with the finest facilities and championship level courses, including The K Club, Lough Erne, Druids Glen, Mount Wolsely, Killeen Castle, Glasson, Galgorm Castle, Slieve Russell, The Heritage, Powerscourt, Adare, Fota Island, Dromoland Castle and many more. Third, visitors can enjoy over 400 private golf clubs scattered throughout Ireland where greens fees offer excellent value and local members make you feel at home. Not least, the 19th hole is a great opportunity to meet local golfers. An old saying puts it like this: There are no strangers in Ireland, only friends you havent met before. The successes of Irish golfers on the international circuit has also put the spotlight on the great golf found throughout the Island. Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Shane Lowrey and others have been not just successful competitors but wonderful ambassadors for Irish fun and hospitality. I hope you and your friends will come to experience golf in Ireland for yourselves. I can assure you a warm welcome and some wonderful memories. Joe Byrne Executive Vice-President Tourism Ireland

Enter the locker room: this is a history of the Ryder Cup like you have never experienced it before. From the origin matches that preceded the first official trans-Atlantic encounter between Britain and America at Worcester Country Club in 1927, all the way through to the fortieth installment at Gleneagles in 2014, this is the complete history of the Ryder Cup – told by the men who have been there and done it. With exhaustive research and exclusive new material garnered from interviews with players and captains from across the decades, Behind the Ryder Cup unveils the compelling truth of what it means to play in golf's biggest match-play event, where greats of the game have crumbled under pressure while others have carved their names into sporting legend.

The brainchild of Samuel Ryder, a wealthy seed merchant from St Albans, the Ryder Cup was a bi-annual British-American professional golf tournament that was first played for the trophy bearing his name in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1927. America won the match and gradually became the dominant force in the competition. During the 1960s the results were so one-sided that the Ryder Cup was expanded so that players from Ireland could compete for the British team. As the Americans continued to win comfortably, Jack Nicklaus led the movement to alter the teams so that European players were also allowed to compete against them. Since 1983 the contest has become one of the most competitive tournaments in the world, with many players achieving sporting immortality for their exploits on green and fairway on both sides of the Atlantic. This book examines the careers and Ryder Cup contributions of 50 of the greatest golfers in history, from Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer to Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this book provides the perfect accompaniment to the upcoming tournament at Gleneagles in Scotland.