Little Poison - by John Dechant (Hardcover)

About the Book

Little Poison is the story of Paul Runyan, a short-hitting farm boy from Arkansas who rose to prominence during the 1930s and defeated Sam Snead by a resounding margin at the 1938 PGA Championship.

Book Synopsis

Shortlisted for the 2023 Herbert Warren Wind Book Award

Paul Runyan--the Arkansas farm boy who stood five feet, six inches and weighed 130 pounds--shocked the golf world by defeating long and lean, sweet-swinging Sam Snead in the finals of the 1938 PGA Championship, thus earning the nickname "Little Poison." Runyan did more than beat Snead: he shellacked him as decisively as David toppled mighty Goliath. His resounding victory was so convincing, so dominant, that even Snead had to shake his head when it was finished and wonder how the porkpie-wearing, pint-sized golf pro had gotten the better of him in the thirty-six-hole final. One bookmaker made Snead a 10-to-1 favorite before the match. Despite Snead's physical gifts--he routinely outdrove Runyan by fifty yards or more--Snead was no match for Runyan, the underdog victor in one of golf's four major championships.

Little Poison is the story of a man who made a career out of punching above his weight on the golf course. Runyan won twenty-nine PGA tournaments between 1930 and 1941, as well as another major championship in 1934. Runyan served in the navy during World War II, joining Snead and other prominent professionals who played exhibition matches to entertain troops and help raise money. After the war he played sparingly--but successfully--and focused on his career as an instructor, teaching his revolutionary short-game techniques. Little Poison follows Runyan throughout these stages of his life, from anonymity to stardom and into golf mythology.

At the heart of Runyan's story is his Depression-era grit. He believed passionately that proper technique and relentless hard work would outlast talent and brawn. Americans who emerged from the Great Depression likely had a little Runyan in them, too, making him the perfect sports hero for the era. His story began not on the immaculate fairways of a country club but on a farm in Hot Springs, Arkansas, near a golf course with oiled sand greens. A disadvantage, some would say--but not Runyan. On those sand surfaces he developed a sustainable technique that became the bedrock of his hall of fame career.

Review Quotes

"Little Poison is a wonderful tribute to a golfer whose life and accomplishments deserve such recognition."--Stuart Shiffman, bookreporter.com

"Little Poison is a well-written account of a very interesting man and time in golf history. John Dechant weaves through time and space effortlessly as he details what made Paul Runyan special. The intangible character traits of high performers have always fascinated me. If you love golf, history, and appreciate greatness, this book is for you."--James Sieckmann, 2018 National PGA Teacher of the Year

"In these fast-moving pages and masterfully researched chapters, John Dechant has given a true gift to devotees of both golf and storytelling. Golf history loves its overlooked underdogs, but few are as overlooked or as interesting as Paul Runyan. Little Poison is a book that will have you cheering from the jump."--Tom Coyne, New York Times best-selling author of A Course Called Scotland and A Course Called America

About the Author

John Dechant is the author of several books, including Scoreless: Omaha Central, Creighton Prep, and Nebraska's Greatest High School Football Game (Bison Books, 2016). His writing has appeared in a variety of magazines and the Golfer's Journal. He is the president of the publishing firm Legacy Preservation.