It was satisfying to see the glum faces of the American fans after Team Europe retained the Ryder Cup on away soil. It was a nervous final day, with the hosts threatening an incredible comeback, but it was not enough to undo the damage already done by the visitors. Shane Lowry had the honour of making the decisive putt and ensuring the trophy would be returning to its rightful home.
Before the start of the tournament, there were plenty of warnings about the hostile atmosphere expected at Bethpage Black. What unfolded was a barrage of unacceptable abuse levelled at Europe’s players by rowdy American fans unable to handle their drinks. And while the Ryder Cup often brings out the best in golf fans, it brought out the worst on this occasion.
Even the family members of players were not immune to the thuggery displayed by those with too much Bud Light in their bellies. Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica was struck with a bottle launched from the crowd in one particularly nasty scene, leaving her in tears.
The Northern Irishman endured a torrent of insults about everything from his personal life to past failures on the golf course. Fans shouted obscenities while he was lining up to swing, prompting him to stop on more than a few occasions.
What is even more disappointing is that the abuse was egged on by those who should have known better. Heather McMahan, the emcee on the first tee, was heard shouting “F*** you Rory!” into a megaphone as those in the grandstands joined in.
McIlroy had the perfect response, though, simply blowing kisses at the crowd as they raged in his direction.
Some fans evidently thought they needed to stoop to those levels in an attempt to rile up Europe’s players and put them off their game. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t work and the hecklers were left with egg on their faces.
They were made to look ridiculous by Team Europe, who brushed it off and wiped the floor with the Americans until the tide turned on the final day. Even then, it wasn’t enough to prevent the visitors from claiming the trophy on enemy turf.
The home fans did themselves no favours at all by resorting to incessant abuse and personal attacks. It only served to lower their reputation in the eyes of the rest of the world, who now have the freedom to laugh at their expense.
That isn’t to say that fans should be sitting quietly and eating cucumber sandwiches, because that’s not what the Ryder Cup is about. Supporters should be encouraged to back their team and revel in the glamour of golf’s biggest team event.
However, there is a line that mustn’t be crossed and some of the vile abuse directed at McIlroy and his team-mates was definitely in violation of that unwritten rule.
In the end, it made the taste of victory even sweeter when the Americans were sent packing in their own back garden. Spare a thought for the hecklers crying into their mashed potatoes this evening.
