Team USA fans have had their behaviour called into question after the first day of the Ryder Cup.
What a day it’s been at Hazeltine. The American team wiped the floor with the Europeans in what was a historic start – their most successful opening in 40 years.
Day one in 70 seconds pic.twitter.com/fJp0l3idHi
— Ryder Cup Team EUR (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2016
Tensions were high, as you’d expect, but the general consensus is that some of the fans let excitement get the better of them. Nobody expects a contest of this gravity to go without the occasional drama. That’s just part of having home advantage, you’re allowed to have an audience who intimidate. But there is little doubt the line was crossed on several occasions.
Just like Peter Willlett – the brother of Danny and who wrote an outrageously offensive magazine column – it’s a shame how some people can ruin it for everyone.
The problem starts with the lone idiot, like the one on 16 who wouldn’t stop yelling at Rose that the ball broke to the water, and was so relentless that eventually Spieth had to tell him to shut up (which hopefully ruined his Ryder Cup experience).
Shane Ryan, Golf Digest.
As I type this Sergio Garcia’s tee shot is immediately followed by a cry of “get in the water,” I mean what the f*** is that!? You have some patience with the jibes that represent a semblance of banter:
“No pressure!” an American fan yelled as Rose lined up a birdie putt to win the hole.
“He’s just kidding,” shouted another. “There’s a lot of pressure. A lot of pressure.”
Ultimately, fans need to appreciate the difference between playful banter and childish distraction.
I guess it depends on your perspective. I personally think it’s part of the fun and as Rory showed yesterday evening, it can motivate the players.
“This is definitely more hostile than Medinah [in 2012], and I just wanted to let people know how much it means to us,” he said. “I bowed to them to say, ‘You’re welcome for the show.”
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