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US fans’ sour note ruins golf
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
After spending the weekend glued to my television watching the Ryder Cup I offer congratulations to Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell on a wonderful debut which would have been all the sweeter had they retained this prestigious golfing trophy.
However, the disappointing thing which stood out was the bad sportsmanship of the American supporters at Valhalla Golf Club. This poor behaviour included mocking shots that went wrong for the European players and jeering as they walked between shots. I strongly suspect when the Ryder Cup is played in Wales in 2010 we will not experience the same hostility directed at the US players.
The European team should be praised for their character and resolve in the face of such adversity from the American golf supporters. A victory in the face of such adversity was deserved and the next Ryder Cup match in Wales will be all the sweeter when this is achieved in 2010.
Adam D Newton
Belfast
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What do you expect? That the Americans should offer high tea at the 13th green? If you want to talk about hooligans, check out your football fans. We whooped ya. Live with it and don't blame the fans. I have an idea....maybe you should blame the team that couldn't perform under pressure.
Posted by McRee | 25.09.08, 13:15 GMT
Dry your eys. The behaviour of the Yanks made me want Europe to beat them even more. What would you prefer. Polite clapping and back-patting all the way? Nonsense. Their actions increased the rivalry in my eyes.
Posted by mickey | 25.09.08, 10:27 GMT
Here in Canada we had to endure the pathetic, biased T.V. commentary of the Americans. Whenever a European player made a less than perfect shot it was deemed to be "a bad mistake" or "a dreadful shot". If an American golfer did the same thing there was always an excuse - "a sudden gust of wind" or "a sudden drop in the wind".
On the last day the American golfers turned out to have played slightly better than the Europeans, but the whole competition was much closer than the final score would suggest.
Well done, Graeme McDowell. Too bad Darren Clarke wasn't on the European team as well!
Posted by J.A. Kernahan | 25.09.08, 04:46 GMT
Your column smacks a bit of sour grapes. After all, the US Team hasn't won the Ryder Cup in over 9 years and to see and hear such enthusiastic supporters in a country more in tune with baseball, football and basketball, we should all be excited to see golf get such attention. I have watched the Cup matches for years and it has always been hard to take the opponents cheering when my countrymen are down. Granted we shouldn't cheer when the other side misses a shot, but think of it as a cheer for the good fortune of our mate. Lighten up Europe, you had the cup for 9 years!
Posted by Poggy Ogrady | 24.09.08, 15:42 GMT