Tommy's Honor
2007
In the tradition of Seabiscuit, the riveting tale of twoproud Scotsmen who beat all comers to become the heroesof a golden ageathe dawn of professional golf
Bringing to life golfas founding father and son, Tommyas Honor is a stirring tribute to two legendary players and a vivid evocation of their colorful, rip-roaring times.
The Morrises were towering figures in their day. Old Tom, born in 1821, began life as a nobodya he was the son of a weaver and a maid. But he was born in St. Andrews, Scotland, the cradle of golf, and the game was in his blood. He became the Champion Golfer of Scotland, a national hero who won tournaments (and huge bets) while his young son looked on. As aKeeper of the Greena at the townas ancient links, Tom deployed golfas first lawnmower and banished sheep from the fairways.
Then Young Tommyas career took off. Handsome Tommy Morris, the Tiger Woods of the nineteenth century, was a more daring player than his father. Soon he surpassed Old Tom and dominated the game. But just as he reached his peakawith spectators flocking to see him playa Tommyas life took a tragic turn, leading to his death at the age of twenty-four. That shock is at the heart of Tommyas Honor, It left Tom to pick up the piecesato honor his son by keeping Tommyas memory alive.
Like the New York Times bestseller The Greatest Game Ever Played, Tommyas Honor is both fascinating history and a moving personal saga. Golfers will love it, but this book isnat only for golfers. Itas for every son who has fought to escape a fatheras shadow and for every father who had guided a son toward manhood, then found it hard to let him go.