Woosie: My Autobiography - Softcover

Woosnam, Ian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007144431 ISBN 13: 9780007144433

Publisher: Willow, 2003

Synopsis

One of the most powerful and popular players of his generation, Ian Woosnam is a golfing legend. His is a fascinating life story – from the struggle to earn a living in a hard-working mining community, through the highs and lows of the amateur and professional game, to becoming a household name.

This is the inspiring story of the farmer's son who worked his way up to become the No. 1 golfer in the world, but who never forgot to have fun. Few European golfers have won more professional tournaments, but Ian Woosnam's remarkable life in golf has always added up to much more than the number of strokes on his card.

Aggressive on the tee, relaxed in the bar, rarely spotted in a gym, Woosnam has become a hugely popular figure in 25 years of pro golf; affectionately known as 'Woosie' from Oswestry to Osaka, St Andrews to Sun City, Wentworth to West Palm Beach.

In his autobiography Woosnam recounts the untold tales of his early years. He recalls turning pro as a teenager and the tribulations of establishing himself on the European tour; his battles in no fewer than seven Ryder Cups alongside the likes of Faldo, Ballesteros and Lyle; and the drama of his 1991 US Masters triumph. More recently, he revisits the infamous fifteenth club fiasco when leading the 2001 Open; and his World Matchplay triumph against the odds that same year.

The book is fully updated to include events from 2002, including Europe’s memorable Ryder Cup triumph and Woosie’s prospects for the captaincy in 2004.

Away from the fairway, he talks about the support of his wife and three children, especially through the tough times when injury and loss of from threatened to curtail his career.

An intriguing insight into the world of a professional golfer who has proved that, with guts, anything is possible.

About this title

Review:

The shortest man ever to win a Major? Certainly, as Ian Woosnam recounts in his entertaining autobiography Woosie, his lack of inches (he's claiming 5ft 4) has been as much a feature of his golf career as anything else--but it only adds to the achievement of a dairy farmer's son from the Welsh borders battling his way to be the best in the world. And Woosnam, who wrote the book in company with veteran sports "ghost" Edward Griffiths, certainly had to battle. This is no tale of hot-housing precocious sporting talent a la Tiger Woods. From hours spent practising in the cow shed, ducking and diving among the junior leagues committee men, to living in a caravan as an assistant greenkeeper, hustling the members to supplement a subsistence wage, Woosie had to scrap for a life in golf.

And when he finally joined the European Tour, any thoughts of having made it were dispelled by five long years following the big boys in his shared rickety old camper van, living off beer and versions of beans on toast, failing to qualify or missing cut after cut. But when success did come it came in abundance. From playing key roles in Europe's Ryder Cup resurgence in the 1980s and 90s, the Masters victory in 1991, and capturing the coveted World No. 1 spot, to the Indian summer of the last few years, when as a veteran in golf terms, Woosie has challenged again for top honours.

It's a fairytale, given a plain-speaking recount that can leave some of the on-course highlights feeling a little flat, but balances that with some forthright recollections of the reality behind the scorecards--good and bad times with his longstanding friend and caddie Wobbly; the problems of drifting in and out of form; how a New Year's Eve party trick helped him reinvent his swing; the gallery of greats from Ballesteros to Woods with whom he has competed; and, of course, that problem with an extra club that arguably robbed him of a sensational Open victory in 2001. Satisfying stuff.--Alex Hankin

Review:

‘Satisfying stuff’ Amazon.co.uk

‘Well written ... with a candid humour’ The Herald

About this edition

• Publisher: Willow
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0007144431
• ISBN 13: 9780007144433
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448