The First Major

One of Golf Digest‘s Best Books of the Year

“Richly detailed and entertaining. . . . Feinstein captures the intensity, the flavor, the pomp and all the circumstance that is. . .the biggest event in golf.”
—USA Today

“Feinstein’s talent always has been the depth of his relationships, which enables him to get important figures to divulge intimate details of what transpired. . . . The book features one interesting anecdote after another, including inside reaction to controversial statements by Phil Mickelson; how an injured Tiger Woods swallowed his ego to play a supporting role as an assistant captain; and more. In the hands of a lesser writer, a book about a lopsided match would have been hard to pull off. Feinstein, though, knows how to tell a good story, regardless of the outcome.”
—Chicago Tribune

“[Feinstein] uses his journalistic instincts and innate curiosity to uncover the story beneath the story. . . . Like a scratch player so confident in his short game he’ll risk the sand traps and water hazards, Feinstein confidently chips and blasts out the notion that golf is reserved for those who prefer insular endeavors.”
–Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

“Plenty of juicy material to enjoy. . . . Feinstein’s readers will walk away the way the victors and the vanquished did: smiling.”
—Golf Digest

“A colorful story. . . that even non-golfers will enjoy. . . . Feinstein digs deep into the event’s illustrious history, peppering his prose with astute observations and witty lines. . . . This [book] ranks among his best.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Feinstein compellingly re-creates the excitement, sometimes shot by shot,
especially in the classic McIlroy-Reed singles match, which has come to be a symbol of golf at its best, both for shotmaking and sportsmanship. A great moment in golf history, vividly captured.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“Golf fans love Feinstein’s books because he’s trusted by the pros and thus can give inside information no other journalist can capture, plus he has a flair for telling a great story…. His journalistic style of short, pithy paragraphs drives the narrative along at breakneck speed. Recommended for any sports enthusiast and a must for golfers of all handicaps.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Feinstein spends nearly three quarters of the book setting us up for the 28-point war at Hazeltine, deep-diving into Ryder Cup backstory and behind-the scenes conversations, power plays and personality studies to ratchet up the tension and reveal this as truly the biggest event in golf . . . He keeps up the quick pace even while fleshing out the stories of individual players, and offers insights on just what motivates and challenges the world’s best to find another level on a stage unlike any other . . . By the time Feinstein gets to the blow-by-blow of the matches, we’re feeling that fire, too. And loving it.”
–Golf Tips Magazine