RORY

The relatable champion.

Shipnuck’s deeply reported golf titles have been newsmakers, and his latest, a bio of Rory McIlroy, may fuel some overblown headlines about the Northern Irishman’s private life and vast wealth. But this is a fair-minded, oft-entertaining book, if one with evident weaknesses. “Defined by impetuousness, on the golf course and in matters of business and romance,” Shipnuck’s McIlroy is “candid and chatty,” a crowd favorite whose appeal stems from wildly uneven showings at major tournaments and emotional moments on live TV. When McIlroy shed tears after winning a long-pursued title, many spectators cried along with him. Shipnuck gives the 36-year-old the comprehensive bio treatment, with early chapters chronicling his precocious skill and immense confidence. Shipnuck demonstrates great command of the sport’s intricacies, writing in fine detail about the mechanics of McIlroy’s swing and the adjustments that improved his putting. His reporting on underappreciated facets of the game is also strong. Hiring a caddy with a risk-tolerant personality proved beneficial when weighing safe vs. go-for-it strategies, but switching equipment companies had surprising impacts on McIlroy’s play. Several times, Shipnuck names (but doesn’t explain) specific features of courses and clubs, which will puzzle casual readers; in each case, a few words of clarification would’ve remedied the problem. A McIlroy confidant says the player will be a billionaire “very soon.” So it’s puzzling that Shipnuck, who finds space for cute anecdotes about McIlroy’s youth and gossip about his purported romances, barely mentions his subject’s use of tax havens that cater to the very rich. This has been covered by European newspapers and golf publications, and in a full-dress bio, it merits more than the two sentences it gets here.

This portrait of a top golfer is well-versed and enjoyable, though not without oversights.