The Secret of Golf

The Story of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus

By: Joe Posnanski

Narrated by: George Newbern

From “one of the best sportswriters in America” (The Washington Times)—the New York Times bestselling story of the friendship and rivalry between golf legends Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, whose sparring matches defined the sport for more than a decade.

The first time they met, at an exhibition match in 1967, Tom Watson was a seventeen-year-old high school student and Jack Nicklaus, at twenty-seven, was already the greatest golfer in the world. Though they shared some similarities—they were both Midwestern boys who had learned how to play golf at their fathers’ country clubs—they differed in many ways. Nicklaus played a game of consummate control and precision. Watson hit the ball all over the place. Nicklaus lacked charm and theatrics, and he was thoroughly despised by most golf fans because he had displaced Arnold Palmer as king of the golf world. Watson was one of those Arnold Palmer fans. Yet over the next twenty years their seemingly divergent paths collided as they battled against each other again and again for a place at the top of the sport and drove each other to ever-soaring heights of accomplishment.

Spanning from that first match through the “Duel in the Sun” at Turnberry in 1977 to Watson’s miraculous near-victory at Turnberry as he approached sixty, and informed by interviews with both players over many years, The Secret of Golf is Joe Posnanski’s intimate account of the most remarkable rivalry and (eventual) friendship in modern golf.

like walking the course with a storyteller

This book is a collection of golf stories well told. With a tighter focus on Tom Watson, it does a solid job of helping the folks behind the ropes better understand what is going on out there, beyond swinging the club.

A Great Book For Stories of 2 of Golf’s Immortals

The book has great stories. Better stories than I hoped for. It also has some interesting tips. I didn’t want tips in the book, but I found them helpful. The book is superbly read.

Exceptional book for golfers with multiple secrets

Would you listen to The Secret of Golf again? Why?

I would. Very easy listen. Story is terrific. Listening to the recounting of the "dual in the sun" and the 82 US Open was superb. Narrator is excellent.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A Both Watson and Nicklaus are the only characters and both have interesting stories

Which character – as performed by George Newbern – was your favorite?

N/A

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

Great read for a golfer. Philosophy, not instruction.

Wow, fantastic story

Great story of some golf history! I never expected this book to be that good.