The Captain Myth: The Ryder Cup and Sports Great Leadership Delusion

(Paperback)

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The War on the Shore, the Battle of Brookline, the Miracle of Medinah: the Ryder Cup is golfs and arguably one of international sports most intense, high-profile tournaments. Two teams tussle through 28 matches over three days for no prize money but enormous national pride. And purportedly in charge of those two teams are the captains, whose reputations are shaped forever by their players results out on the course. Justin Roses unlikely 35-foot on the 17th green at Medinah Country Club set up Europes triumph and one of modern sports most remarkable turnarounds in the 2012 Ryder Cup. It also established Davis Love II as a bad captain and saw Jos Mara Olazbal feted for a series of leadership masterstrokes. In reality, neither captain had much to do with that putt being sunk. Yet the pressure remains on the captains to lead their team to victory. As each Cup passes, more theories are put forward about how to win. Some of these combine traditional golfing nous with cutting-edge sports psychology. Others are red herrings that have led captains down any number of blind alleys. So what can a captain do to win the Ryder Cup Using exclusive interviews and saturation reporting, Gillis shows how strategy has evolved since the very first match in 1927, exploring the enduring and often surprising role played by some of the games greatest stars including Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tony Jacklin, Seve Ballesteros and Paul Azinger. The Captain Myth uses golfs greatest event to examine some fundamental questions about leadership, teams and motivation.

Reviews

A brilliant rethink of sport's leadership myths: Nassim Taleb logic combined with insider knowledge of the game -- Ed Smith, author of Luck: A fresh look at fortune
Richard Gillis explores fascinating subject matter that goes to the heart of golfs greatest contest and sport as a whole. -- Iain Carter, BBC
A thorough examination of the cult of the leader in sport This book challenges our assumptions. -- Paul Hayward, chief sports writer, Daily Telegraph
An enlightening foray into the power and pitfalls of leadership at the heights of athletic competition ... The Captain Myth provides deep insights for anyone eager to understand the value and limits to leadership in an age that celebrates autonomy and scorns authority. -- Gary Hamel, best-selling author and visiting professor at the London Business School
There's only one person I'd read on the subject of leadership in sport: Richard Gillis. A book to enjoy, absorb and return to. -- Sathnam Sanghera, author and business columnist for The Times
Gillis brings wisdom, insight and just enough skepticism to the absurd spectacle that is modern captaincy. -- Geoff Shackelford, Golf Digest
Richard Gillis questions the mythology around leadership and the acceptance of simplified narratives of success and failure that have no more validity than blind luck. Gillis book prompts a vital conversation. -- John Amaechi OBE
Richard Gillis explores just what it takes to lift the famous trophy ... speaking to gurus, experts, psychologists and former captains for an unrivalled level of insight. * Gentlemans Journal *
Essential reading * The Telegraph *
Richard Gillis delves deep into the fascinating subject of what makes a strong sporting leader With the emphasis on golf, Gillis meticulously analyses Ryder Cup captains and their methods. He produces statistics alongside simple commentary, meaning this book is valuable for potential leaders or those seeking to assess them in any sport. Put simply, so much of The Captain Myth rings true. * The Observer *
Excellent * Golf World *
Fascinating * Blackpool Gazette *
It makes for a fascinating read, even if you're not a golf enthusiast. * The Pink (Bournemouth) *

Author Bio

Richard Gillis is an award-winning journalist working for several of the worlds leading newspaper and publishing groups. Formerly editor of SportBusiness International magazine, he then became Cricket Correspondent of the Irish Times covering Irelands remarkable 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup campaign in the Caribbean, where his reporting on the untimely death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer led the global news agenda. He now lives in London, where he is a columnist and feature interviewer for the Irish Times and writes about sport, business and the media for the Wall Street Journal, alongside media and communications consultancy work.