Former Women & Golf Editor, Emma Ballard, was a judge for the Golf Book of the Year, with six strong titles to choose from, who would take home the major writing glory?
Two weeks may have passed since the Golf Book of the Year 2025 returned to the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards at The Kia Oval on May 2nd, but with the men’s second Major now completed and World Number 1 Scottie Scheffler claiming his third Major title, it’s the perfect time to reveal this year’s winning golf book.
Celebrating its 23rd Anniversary, the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards once again featured the Golf Book of the Year, first introduced in 2012, alongside categories covering football, rugby, cricket, the Vikki Orvice Award for Women’s Sports Writing, and the ever-popular best autobiography.
This year’s golf shortlist featured six standout titles, each offering something different for fans and casual readers alike. Big name nominees included BBC Golf correspondent, Iain Carter, and DP World Tour professional, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.
Six strong titles
In addition to ‘Golf Wars’ by Carter that follows the establishment of LIV Golf and the ensuing battle for the future of professional golf, and Johnston’s ‘Golf is Hard’ which shares some side-splitting but also the harsh realities of life behind the scenes as a tour pro, the nominations were ‘The Tiger Slam’ by Kevin Cook, ‘Seve Ballesteros's Touch of Class’ by Kenny Reid, ‘LIV and Let Die’ by Alan Shipnuck and ‘Open Links’ by Dominic Holland.
At the time, as Editor of Women & Golf, I joined a notable list of experts in the golfing arena including golf writer and Secretary of Association of Golf Writers Matt Cooper, Philip Cotton CEO of Nicklaus Companies, golf influencer David Jones better known as UK Golf Guy, and Scott Macpherson, renowned golf course architect and author of several leading golf publications such as ‘The Evolution of the Old Course’.
Choosing a winner was no easy task. From the triumphs of legends of the game to the grind of today’s professionals, each book offered compelling storytelling. We were particularly impressed by Open Links by Dominic Holland, 18 short chapters, one for each hole of a fictional Open Championship final round at Muirfield, an imaginative and heartfelt tribute to the spirit of golf. We awarded it a Highly Commended honour.
Whilst the current turmoil in men's professional golf dominates the headlines and two of this year's shortlisted titles, it was feat achieved 25 years ago, told authentically and with new insight from inside the ropes, that after much deliberation ultimately took the title. The Tiger Slam by Kevin Cook.
Although the men’s Major running order has changed, it was after claiming the second men’s Major (U.S. Open) in 2000 that Tiger Woods would blaze his own trail and go on to hold all four Majors at the same time. Something that is yet to be matched… step forward Scottie Scheffler?
Winner Kevin Cook
Cook brings new depth and clarity to this historic achievement, shedding light on Woods’ dominance through original interviews, sharp analysis, and vivid narrative.
On receiving the award Cook said: “I would like to say thank you to my publishers and to Tiger Woods for taking golf to a higher level in 2000/2001, the time of the Tiger Slam. Thank you for this terrific honour.”
While Cook took home the golf award, the night’s biggest spotlight fell on Khalida Popal. She not only won the Vikki Orvice Award for Women’s Sports Writing but also the overall Sports Book of the Year for My Beautiful Sisters. A powerful memoir of survival, sisterhood, and resistance in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. It tells the story of Popal’s fight for women’s rights in sport, her exile, and the daring international effort to rescue her teammates after Kabul’s fall. A powerful reminder of courage, teamwork and hope.
To view the full list of winners from the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book of Year Awards, click here.
