Now that the dust has settled on the dramatic events at Bethpage last weekend, it is time to reflect on what was a most extraordinary Ryder Cup tournament that will long be remembered for both good and bad reasons.
We should not allow the poor behaviour of sections of the crowd to detract from the terrific golf that was played throughout the tournament. It should also not be forgotten that on those first two days the American team didn’t play that badly but the Europeans were simply outstanding. It was teamwork at its best under the inspirational leadership of captain Luke Donald.
The American golfers produced a brave fightback in the singles. It made the last day much more gripping than had been expected and the final 15-13 score more acceptable for the hosts. However, the damage had been done on the opening two days.
The sad thing is that the brilliant golf from both teams at times became secondary to the unsavoury incidents sparked by some of the crowd. You know something is not quite right when mistakes by players are greeted by louder cheers than any fine shots. It’s a bit like tennis fans applauding double faults.
At most regular stroke-play golf tournaments around the world, the galleries are very respectful, knowing when to clap and when to keep quiet. But in the Ryder Cup it is a different story, brought on by the admittedly exciting match-play format in which every hole counts and the fans know it. As a result the galleries have become increasingly boisterous, sounding more like football crowds.
At Bethpage the raucous crowd was to be expected, but the vitriolic nature of the insults aimed at the Europeans was over-the-top. It didn’t do the American players any favours either, as it must have been uncomfortable for them hearing the slurs directed at their opponents. All credit to Justin Thomas who repeatedly gestured to the crowd to calm down when the Europeans were putting.
The great American golfer Tom Watson was so upset that he apologised for the “rude and mean-spirited behaviour” of the fans.
Unfortunately the event will always attract those who think it is clever to shout out something stupid when a player tees off. We should be thankful there were very few water hazards at Bethpage so at least we didn’t get those idiotic cries of: “in the water”. However, this time it was “in the bunker”. And of course the tiresome “get in the hole” accompanied virtually every shot.
Fortunately there were many things to admire on the playing side. US “rookie” Cameron Young performed well throughout the tournament, highlighted by a dramatic win over Justin Rose in the singles.
Despite the loss to Young, Rose epitomised the commitment of the European squad. Some of his putting was absolutely brilliant. Rory McIlroy played well considering the crowd hostility, which clearly affected him. Tommy Fleetwood was also outstanding and displayed an amazingly cool demeanour despite the pressure.
Shane Lowry will always be remembered for his Irish jig as he celebrated sinking the putt that guaranteed Europe would retain the trophy. His reaction reflected the tension the players were experiencing.
Arguably the best shot of the tournament came from Spaniard Jon Rahm when he chipped in from an almost impossible lie on the eighth hole on the second day. Rahm was a truly inspirational figure on those first two days.
Let’s hope that in the 2027 tournament at Adare Manor in Ireland we will return to fans cheering the good shots and not the mistakes.