Without him, the famous little trophy might be gathering dust in someone’s attic. It is not an exaggeration to say Tony Jacklin transformed the Ryder Cup.
As Europe’s talisman, he captained a rejuvenated continent to victories in 1985 and 1987, retained the trophy with a draw in 1989, and began to turn what had been a tired and jaded exhibition into one of the world’s biggest team competitions.
Those crowds at Whistling Straits a few weeks ago, the thunder clap that rocked Paris from titanic stands in 2018? Would any of that have been possible were it not for Jacklin and a collection of improbably talented golfers in the 1980s?
Now the architect of an age of European dominance in the biennial event has put down his experiences – and those of his wider career – in a new book: Tony Jacklin: My Ryder Cup Journey.
He’s our guest this week on The Slam podcast…
The Slam: The all-important questions about the Dunhill Links + Is Charley Hull Britain’s next big thing? - with special guest Sophie Walker
From the Clubhouse: Is this the future of men and women playing together in golf club competitions?
The Slam: Breaking down one of the most bizarre Rules of Golf incidents we’ve seen in a long time + Piano man Sam Harrop on his rise to Twitter stardom
The Slam: Predicting Europe’s Ryder Cup squad + Squabbling about LIV Golf
From the Clubhouse: Do visitors get a raw deal at golf clubs?
The Slam: Recapping an extraordinary BMW PGA Championship + All the LIV Golf beef
The Slam: Pure chaos! (Whisper it, but is it OK to like LIV Golf now?)
The Slam: Who is winning the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf war?
The Slam: What went down at Tiger’s meeting? + Is the FedEx Cup meaningless?
From the Clubhouse: We ask England Golf if the sport is heading for a cost-of-living crisis + WHS is finally going global!
The Slam: Falling out about Cam Smith’s controversial rules incident, saving women’s golf, and reigniting the Great Shorts Debate
The Slam: What we can learn from the Women’s Open champion overcoming her mental demons - with sports psychologist Duncan McCarthy
From the Clubhouse: Iona Stephen and James Taylor on the physical and mental benefits of golf
The Slam: The curious case of Muirfield hosting the Women’s Open + Should Rory McIlroy have been Ryder Cup captain?
The Slam: Why it’s time to stop criticising players for moving to LIV Golf for the money
The Slam: Was that the best Open ever? + Are LIV Golf about to make their boldest move yet?
The Slam: We’ve arrived at The Open! + Graeme McDowell on St Andrews
The Slam: Wild Ryder Cup rumours! + LIV Golf has another huge signing and a new format - so what’s next?
The Slam: Should we be worried by the latest LIV defections + Rules of Golf deep dive
The Slam: Recapping an incredible US Open + Who’s next to join LIV Golf?
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