Shane Ryan: Slaying the Tiger

An interview by Anand Datla

June 11, 2015: Shane Ryan is making waves with his candid book, Slaying the Tiger which talks about the transitional era that is sweeping current day golf. Just as the bold young golfers taking the game over from the Tiger Woods era, Ryan is a sports writer in the United States who is willing to break mould and speak his mind. He writes regularly for Golf Digest and the book has been the result of his labour of love, embedding himself on the TOUR for a season.

In this exclusive interview, we caught up with Ryan for his views on the game and his book.

Greetings Shane. Interesting title for a book on golf. Can you talk to us about the genesis of this book and its title?

Thanks. The idea I had originally, when I wrote the proposal for the book in 2013, was that the 2014 season would be a transitional moment for the game, when the young players began to win more, and older guys like Tiger started to fade. That’s the main meaning behind “Slaying the Tiger”—I felt the time was coming when the new stars would rise to prominence, and as it turned out, that’s exactly what has happened the last two years. However, there’s also a secondary meaning behind the title. Tiger Woods has been such an iconic part of golf, and had such amazing success, that any new star will be fighting against his legend, even after he’s stopped winning. Slaying Tiger on the course is one thing, and many young stars are doing that right now. But slaying the mythical Tiger of our imaginations is much harder, and maybe more important. So that was a central question I was trying to answer—how can anyone overcome such a huge presence?

Why did you chose to say, “New PGA TOUR?” Also was it just coincidence or a deliberate choice to illustrate Rory McIlroy in the head of Tiger Woods, perhaps signifying just that!!

I said “new” PGA Tour because I think 2014 represented the start of a new era. The Tiger year are over, and what happens in the next decade will be defined by players like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, and Patrick Reed. Having Rory in Tiger’s head was a bit of a coincidence—I knew I wanted him at the top, but I didn’t intend any kind of second meaning. I like that people are thinking that, though! But in truth, Tiger has bigger problems than Rory McIlroy, and I don’t think Rory is literally or figuratively “in his head.”

Can you give us a first person impression of your own book? How does it stand out on a crowded bookshelf of sports writing?

For me, Slaying the Tiger stands out for its honesty. Golf is a sport with a lot of “traditional” journalism, where the players are presented as heroes and their flaws are ignored. I made it my mission in 2014 to really learn what each of these players is like, and to present those conclusions truthfully. I did not withhold any information, whether it was good, bad, or ugly. If you read this book, you’re going to get the kind of honest perspective that you won’t see anywhere else in the golf world. I had nothing to lose.

How exciting is it for the game of golf to witness a young generation of golfers take over the centre of gravity with some stunning performances?

Very exciting. It feels like a revolution, and in some ways, that’s exactly what it is. The energy in golf right is at a level that we haven’t seen since the late ’90s, when Tiger emerged, and it’s only going to get better. I think golf is in great hands with the new generation.

In your opinion, what do you think is the road ahead for Tiger Woods?

It’s really hard to say, but my guess is that Tiger’s best days are permanently behind him. It’s been two years since he was competitive, and as he approaches age 40, time is not on his side. I believe we’re only going to see his game get worse, and while he might have a great tournament or two left, I believe his slow decline will continue unabated.

The 82 in February and 85 at the Memorial have served to accentuate his worries at this stage of his career. Do you have some insight into what might be ailing with the great champion?

I think it’s old age, injury, and maybe even a lack of passion. Tiger’s game has gone downhill ever since the events of Thanksgiving 2009, and I believe his injuries last year marked the end of the really competitive part of Tiger’s career.

Your podcasts on golf have been very well received, just as some of your recent stories around Patrick Reed. How would you assess your own contribution to the narrative around golf?

Well, as I said above, I think people recognize me as an honest voice. Whether you like me or not, you know you will always get the truth, and it won’t be filtered in any way. It may not sound like much, but it’s rare in golf, and I know that I’m telling stories (especially about the young players) that nobody else has told. Hopefully everyone who reads my book feels the same way!

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