Yes, opposing fans celebrate and cheer the misfortune of opponents in the Ryder Cup. No-one objected to the European roars that greeted Rickie Fowler’s tee shot finding water on the 16th on the final day at Rome in 2023.
But, unlike individual tournaments where skill is celebrated and mistakes bring sympathy, the Ryder Cup is a tribal contest. Crowds are there to back their team and even booing of the opposition is tolerated these days.
The galleries in Rome were as partisan in their support for Europe as we have ever seen. Remember the collective removal of headwear to taunt the cap-less Patrick Cantlay.
Maybe he got what he deserved for a perceived protest against not being paid to represent his country, but either way he was not exactly made to feel welcome by the home hoards.
Such partisanship will likely not have been forgotten by American fans. Later this month we are expecting a ‘bear pit’ atmosphere at Bethpage in support of the home team’s quest to regain the trophy.
There are fears the US fans will go over the top, that there will be nasty abuse of the European players, just as there has been at previous away Ryder Cups.
Officials say they already have plans in place to ensure it does not go the wrong side of the line. No-one wants players being put off by shouting as shots are being played.
We will all be watching closely to see whether the event is sullied by New York fans who carry the reputation of being the most partisan of American sporting supporters.
European captain Luke Donald is preparing his players to cope with the worst of it because winning an away Ryder Cup has become one of the hardest achievements in golf.
It is the last big goal of McIlroy’s remarkable year. He has won on the PGA Tour at iconic Pebble Beach, taken the prestigious Players title in Florida and become only the sixth man to win all four majors thanks to his success at Augusta National in April.
Now, for the second time, he has won the Irish Open and he was right to revel in the noise and passion generated by his extraordinary ability to seize the moment.
Inspiring a European victory in hostile territory at the end of this month would be a fitting climax to his gloriously tumultuous season.
It would certainly prompt in European fans the kind of unbridled joy witnessed by the Irish crowds, including those two young lads last Sunday – who are surely golf fans for life now.
But it might spark unsavoury scenes as well. If American fans cross that line of interfering with play, they will rightly face condemnation for ruining what should be one of the great spectacles in sport.
If it is just raw sporting partisanship that prevails, we would do well to remember it was not just the good side of such support that was on show at the Irish Open last Sunday.
It would be hypocritical not to.
Read the full article here