Synopses & Reviews
Alternating from the golf course to the boardroom, the first account of the fifty-year duel that helped push golf to the heights and popularity it enjoys today.
Surprisingly, one of sport's most contentious, complex, and defining clashes played itself out not in the ring or at the scrimmage line but on the genteel green fairways of this country's finest courses. Arnie and Jack. Palmer and Nicklaus. Their decades-long rivalry propelled each to the status of American icon and helped transform a gentleman's game into a major American sport with a dedicated following.
Ian O'Connor explores the heated professional and personal battle between Palmer and Nicklaus in fascinating, intimate, and revelatory detail. Drawing on unique access to both players and having conducted more than 200 new interviews with everyone from family to fellow players to business associates right down to the caddies and clubhouse attendants, O'Connor illuminates their extreme differences and sprawling influences through mini-dramas, such as the 1962 U.S. Open, their years of alternating major victories like cards in a deck, their early involvement with marketing and a small agency called IMG, and their intense competition for golf course designs. By the end of this page-turning narrative that spans fifty remarkable years, we see that in the end each wanted what the other had: Arnold had the adoring fans but wanted the trophies. Jack had the trophies but wanted the love.We also learn that despite being bitter rivals they were also dear friends.
Review
Thrillingly dramatic depictions
Comprehensive interviews humanize the two legends while contextualizing their roles in the game's history
Exemplary.
Kirkus Reviews
"Finely written, intricately researched and smartly reported." -- YahooSports.com
"Superb...Arresting." New York Post
"You can't go wrong writing or reading about those two guys, and O'Connor certainly got it right." Newsday
"Fascinating . . . A nice mix of golf history and interpersonal dynamics." Booklist, ALA
"A considerable amount of original research... Recommended." Library Journal
"Refreshing and captivating." Tampa Tribune
"OConnors chronicle...gives readers a picture-perfect view of how they made the sport what it is today." John Feinstein
THE definitive book on [Arnie and Jacks] often complicated but honorable relationship.” Gene Wojciechowski
OConnor explains the most complicated of human relationships in the simplest of terms
the fascinating journey
should not be missed.” Bill Plaschke
A classic work
the most riveting personal moments...[it] is the best thing Ive read in a long while.” Edwin Pope
OConnor, reporting in rich detail
while lifting golf to the big leagues of American sports.” Dave Kindred
". . . an exceptional read." USA Today
"OConnor's book is great because it reminds you how much fun and how ferocious golf used to be." Kansas City Star
Synopsis
O'Connor explores the heated professional and personal battle between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in fascinating, intimate, and revelatory detail. Drawing on unique access to both players, O'Connor illuminates the golf greats' extreme differences and sprawling influences.
Synopsis
Surprisingly, one of sports most contentious, complex, and defining clashes played out not in the boxing ring or at the line of scrimmage but on the genteel green fairways of the worlds finest golf courses. Arnie and Jack. Palmer and Nicklaus. Their fifty-year duel, in both the clubhouse and the boardroom, propelled each to the status of American icon and pushed modern golf to the heights and popularity it enjoys today.
Yet for all the ink that has been spilled on these two essential golf figures individually, no one has ever examined their relationship in this way. Arnie was the cowboy, with rugged good looks, Popeye-like forearms, a flailing swing, and charm enough to win fans worldwide. Jack was scientific, precise, conservative, aloof, even fat and awkward. Ultimately, Nicklaus got the better of Palmer on the course, beating him in major victories, 18-7. But Palmer bested Nicklaus almost everywhere else, especially in the hearts of the public and in endorsement dollars -- Palmer was the top-grossing athlete for thirty years, until Michael Jordan surpassed him.
With dogged reporting and crisp, colorful storytelling, the award-winning sports columnist Ian OConnor explores this heated professional and personal battle in fascinating, intimate, and revelatory detail. Drawing on unique and exclusive access to Palmer and Nicklaus, and informed by some two hundred new interviews, OConnor illuminates the two mens extreme differences and sprawling influence through mini-dramas, such as their little-known first meeting on the course at the topsy-turvy U.S. Open in 1962, their early involvement with marketing and a small agency called IMG, and their intense competition for golf-course designs in their later years.
By the end of this page-turning narrative, which spans five remarkable decades, we see that each man wanted what the other had: Arnold had the adoring fans but wanted the trophies. Jack had the trophies but wanted the love.
Synopsis
Surprisingly, one of sports most contentious, complex, and defining clashes played out not in the boxing ring or at the line of scrimmage but on the genteel green fairways of the worlds finest golf courses. Arnie and Jack. Palmer and Nicklaus. Their fifty-year duel, in both the clubhouse and the boardroom, propelled each to the status of American icon and pushed modern golf to the heights and popularity it enjoys today.
Arnie was the cowboy, with rugged good looks, Popeye-like forearms, a flailing swing, and charm enough to win fans worldwide. Jack was scientific, precise, conservative, aloof, even fat and awkward. Ultimately, Nicklaus got the better of Palmer on the course, beating him in major victories 18-7. But Palmer bested Nicklaus almost everywhere else, especially in the hearts of the public and in endorsement dollars. By the end of this page-turning narrative, we see that each man wanted what the other had: Arnold wanted the trophies. Jack wanted the love.
In the tradition of John Feinstein and Mark Frost, Ian OConnor has written a compelling account of one of the greatest rivalries in sports history.
About the Author
IAN O'CONNOR is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has won numerous Associated Press awards. Currently he writes for ESPNNewYork.com and hosts a radio show for ESPN. He is the author of Arnie and Jack, a New York Times bestseller, and The Jump.
Table of Contents
Introduction ix Prologue: Athens 1
Part I 1. POOR BOY . . . . . 17 2. STARDOM . . . . . 33 3. RICH KID . . . . . 45 4. CHERRY HILLS . . . . . 60 5. OAKMONT . . . . . 76 6. AUGUSTA . . . . . 101 7. BACK TO BACK . . . . . 118 8. MASTER OF DISASTER . . . . . 137 9. BALTUSROL . . . . . 147
Part II 10. TRANSFORMATION . . . . . 161 11. PEBBLE BEACH . . . . . 174 12. LAST DANCE . . . . . 183 13. OAKMONT REVISITED . . . . . 195 14. GAMESMANSHIP . . . . . 204 15. REUNION . . . . . 212 16. SEPARATION . . . . . 221 17. KING FOR A DAY . . . . . 231
Part III 18. COLD WAR . . . . . 243 19. HONOREE . . . . . 250 20. WINNIE AND BARBARA . . . . . 259 21. THE KING AND THE BEAR . . . . . 274 22. CEREMONIAL . . . . . 288 23. OPPORTUNITY LOST . . . . . 293 24. LAST ROUNDS . . . . . 303
Acknowledgments 319 Appendix A: Arnold Palmers Record 322 Appendix B: Jack Nicklauss Record 325 Notes 329 Bibliography 341 Index 345