As a further indication of the coarseness of our times . . .

[Déjà Bru]

. . . a change that has happened during the course of our lives, I present you with this. I remember when golf tournaments, like tennis, were cathedral-quiet. Now you have:

Ryder Cup MC steps down after leading vulgar Rory McIlroy chants

A master of ceremonies has stepped down from her role at the Ryder Cup after joining the Bethpage Black crowd in directing expletive-laced chants toward Rory McIlroy.

In a statement released Sunday morning, the PGA of America announced that American comedian and actress Heather McMahan will not return to emcee at the first tee at Bethpage Black.

"Heather McMahan has extended an apology to Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup," said the PGA of America, which runs the event.

Video footage taken Saturday morning appeared to show McMahan riling up fans at the first tee by shouting, "F--- you, Rory," into the microphone.

European golfers, who have dominated the first two days of the competition, were heckled repeatedly by the rowdy Bethpage Black crowd Saturday -- and McIlroy caught the brunt of the abuse.

I am ashamed of my fellow Long Islanders. I am ashamed of Americans, and of people in general.

On my worst days, I feel like I have lived too long. But you know what? I'm not giving up.

[Amazin69]

Who tf goes to a GOLF match to curse???? I have a feeling that "comedy" has gotten far worse since I stopped watching Comedy Central.

And, of course, jingoism is as toxic as it's been for over 125 years, now. JMO.

[Déjà Bru]

Here is a sampling of columns from around the golf world on the fan behavior at the Ryder Cup.

Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports: “They rained down in torrents, boos and obscenities and cheap shots. They blanketed Rory McIlroy everywhere he went, and they did what the United States team was unable to do: put a dent, however slight, in the European team. … We all knew this would happen, right from the moment that Bethpage Black was announced as a Ryder Cup host all the way back in 2013″ (YAHOO SPORTS, 9/27).

Adam Shupak, Golfweek: “The New York fans are known to be boisterous, but this was less an indictment of the local fans than an ongoing problem that happens every four years during an American Ryder Cup, especially on the weekend when fans start drinking as early as 9 in the morning and forget about the impressionable youngsters in attendance too” (GOLFWEEK, 9/27).

Ryan Lavner, Golf Channel: “One of the most ridiculous theories posited pre-tournament was that if the Americans unperformed, the famously ruthless New York crowds would shift their ire inward, toward the home team. Not even close. The fans just became even more entrenched, more emboldened, more determined to make the visitors’ lives hell. Remember when it was viewed as unsportsmanlike for the home crowd to cheer when an opponent missed a green? This is the new era entirely. Angry, salty, vulgar. Over the line” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 9/27).

Andrew Beaton, Wall Street Journal: “The fans at Bethpage Black have booed the Europeans, cheered their mistakes and begun counting out loud when they feel they’re taking too long to hit the ball. But even in that uproarious context, there are plenty of ways that fans still edge into dicey territory. That can be by saying something inappropriate directly at a player or yelling when a player is about to hit, when they’re supposed to be afforded quiet” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/27).

Rick Maese, The Washington Post: “What the fans here lacked in wit, they made up for in alcohol consumption, barking profanities from dawn to dusk. Nothing was off limits, least of all McIlroy’s family. His personal life has been fodder for the bawdy Long Island crowd, his scabs and old scars treated like catnip” (WASHINGTON POST, 9/27).

Phil Mushnick, N.Y. Post: “Where the Ryder Cup was born and for decades sustained by transatlantic sportsmanship, friendliness, fair-play and gentlemanly comportment, our short-sighted media-driven ‘sports culture’ no longer allows for such a feels-good and feels-right ‘sports culture.’ There is no dignity, thus nothing beneath it. In other words, American audiences — on site and those watching on NBC — are now encouraged — mandated — to do their worst to make the visiting side feel as uncomfortable, unwelcome and as vengeful as possible. But it’s only golf? The hell it is, you 4-F slacker! It’s war!” (N.Y. POST, 9/27).

The United States should be disqualified as a hosting site for any international events for a period of years, until we learn how to control ourselves. But the organizations that run such tournaments will not do so because they want our money.

[Amazin69]

This is only my own personal hatred speaking, but I assume that Bombin' Bryson DeChambeau was leading the yobs in the crowd on?

[Déjà Bru]

From The Athletic:

Rory McIlroy on verbal abuse at Ryder Cup: ‘I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf’

By Jenna West



Rory McIlroy said the abuse from fans at this week’s Ryder Cup “got to me a few times” as disappointed American fans focused their ire on the Northern Irishman during the tournament.

“Look, I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf,” McIlroy said Sunday after Europe beat the United States 15-13. “I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. Golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette. … It was a rough week for all of us.

“But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played, and we tried to. I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that.”

While playing with Shane Lowry in the first match of the Saturday afternoon session at Bethpage Black, McIlroy repeatedly had to step away from his golf ball as spectators shouted obscenities and personal insults at the career Grand Slam winner.

The PGA of America, which runs the Ryder Cup, and others involved in the match took action. At least 20 police officers were on or around the tee box at No. 10, some of them on bicycles, in an attempt to dissuade spectators. The United States’ Justin Thomas, who was playing with Cameron Young against McIlroy and Lowry, waved down the crowd on every green to make it reasonably quiet for McIlroy and Lowry to putt.

McIlroy backed off a putt on No. 4 when somebody yelled an obscenity directed at him. He waited a bit, backed off, talked to Lowry, then missed the putt. McIlroy then went over and spoke to a rules official. A more noticeable police presence became apparent shortly thereafter.

While in the fairway on the 16th hole, fans continued to yell at McIlroy while he went through his pre-shot routine. He turned and directed an obscenity back at them, which was caught on video and quickly shared on X.

On Sunday, McIlroy said he chooses to interact with fans on “impulse.”

“Honestly, I’d say it’s just on impulse,” McIlroy said. “Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. I’m quite an impulsive character, if you haven’t noticed. Sometimes I’ll engage, and sometimes I’ll catch myself and refrain.”

He called the increased police presence “insane” and said, “There was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behavior.”

McIlroy was involved in another confrontation with fans Saturday after someone threw a beer at his wife, Erica, while the McIlroys were walking to the 17th green to cheer on his teammates. Erica turned around, looking shocked, and an angry McIlroy rushed over to her. A Team Europe official held back McIlroy, who checked on his wife, and then the couple walked away from the crowd.

McIlroy said abuse directed toward golfers’ families “should be off limits” and said his wife “handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has.”

Europe’s victory Sunday marked the first time that either side has won a Ryder Cup on foreign soil since 2012. The tournament was a wipeout for the first two days, as Europe stormed to a quick lead. The Americans entered Sunday seeking to erase a seven-point deficit and got close, losing by only two points.

[Déjà Bru]

From The Athletic:

Europe wins Ryder Cup after a torrid United States attempted comeback

By Hugh Kellenberger



FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — The Ryder Cup trophy is headed back to Europe.

The Europeans clinched the Cup at 5:15 p.m. when Shane Lowry drained a six-foot putt for the 14th point, but it was not without one last United States flurry.

A Ryder Cup that was a wipeout for the first two days turned thrilling on Sunday, as the Americans sought to erase a seven-point deficit. They came close — Lowry’s 14th point clinched the retention of the Cup, and then Tyrrell Hatton halved his match with Collin Morikawa to win it outright for Europe. The final score was 15-13.

This is the first time either side has won a Ryder Cup on foreign soil since 2012, when the Europeans stormed back on Sunday. The Americans’ victories in 2016 and 2021, the latter by a modern record margin, encouraged the idea in the two years leading up to this Cup that the sides were evenly matched and that home-course advantage was a determining factor.

That theory must be taken back after this week — the Europeans have now won two in a row, six of eight, and 11 of 15 dating back to 1995, before Scottie Scheffler was even born. That said, this was the closest Ryder Cup since 2012.

Since the 28-point format was introduced in 1979, the Europeans were the first team to enter Sunday singles with 11 ½ points, and made it 12 before the first match teed off. Viktor Hovland was forced to withdraw from his singles match against Harris English due to a neck injury aggravated on Saturday, resulting in the game being taken off the board and a half-point awarded to both sides.

That got the United States to 5 points, but the Americans didn’t need half points — what would have been the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history required full points, and lots of them. Cameron Young and Justin Thomas, chosen by U.S. captain Keegan Bradley to lead the lineup, both won their matches on the 18th green over Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, respectively. Fleetwood and Rose had been killers all week, undefeated together and separate.

Xander Schauffele cruised to a win over Jon Rahm.

Ludvig Åberg beat Patrick Cantlay to get the Europeans to 13 points.

Bryson DeChambeau, down by five to Matt Fitzpatrick after seven holes, rallied to get a halve in his match, but that still left the visitors a half-point away. In the event of a tie, Ryder Cup custom is the team that holds the Cup retains it. Scheffler beat Rory McIlroy, and JJ Spaun beat Sepp Straka to keep it going.

So, all eyes fell on Russell Henley and Lowry. Lowry, down 1, had to scramble on No. 17 just to get the match to the 18th hole, then watched as Henley stuck his approach shot out of a bunker to the top part of the green. Lowry hit his just inside that line, watched Henley roll his putt to within inches. Then, with everyone watching, he made his putt to win the Ryder Cup.

Lowry was immediately overwhelmed with emotion. This is his third Ryder Cup and the 2019 Open champion has repeatedly said how much this event means to him, how making it every two years means to him than almost anything else. He said as he walked to the 18th tee box he told his caddie what the moment in front of him was exactly about.

“I said, ‘I have a chance to do the coolest thing of my life here.’ And like, the Ryder Cup means everything to me, honestly. I’ve won The Open in Ireland. It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true,” Lowry said. “But the Ryder Cup for me is everything.”

Good. Good for them. I hope some of my jackass neighbors went home sorely disappointed.

[Déjà Bru]

PGA of America president apologizes, condemns U.S. fans' behavior

PGA of America president Don Rea Jr., who initially compared vitriolic comments at the Ryder Cup to what could be heard at a youth soccer game, apologized Thursday in an email to the 30,000-plus golf professionals he was elected to serve.

Although it wasn't the PGA's fault except for the following:

1) Hiring a foul-mouthed comedienne as MC; no mention of this in the apology.

2) Serving beer at the event; this, of course, is a no-brainer in that it's unavoidable.

Who should apologize are the stupid louts who attended the event but that is never going to happen. Their kids and those of other adults in attendance learned something, though: How to misbehave when their turns come.

And so it goes, downhill.

[Antonin]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

...I am ashamed of my fellow Long Islanders. I am ashamed of Americans, and of people in general.

On my worst days, I feel like I have lived too long. But you know what? I'm not giving up.

I have given up. There is no reason at all not to give up. We usually go see the Cavs or the Guardians once or twice a season, in spite of the cost. But we didn't attend any sports events this year, because I'm afraid that we will be harassed or physically attacked if we do not stand up and put our hands on our hearts and sing. I just want to keep my head down and hope my wife and I can stay alive and unhurt.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Antonin

I have given up. There is no reason at all not to give up. I keep my head down and hope my wife and I can stay alive and unhurt.

Ah, don't be like that. If enough of us keep talking about class, decency, and morality, maybe it will trickle down (unlike the economic theory).

By the way, this is Tom Watson:

‘I am ashamed’: Ex-U.S. Ryder Cup captain apologizes for ‘rude’ Bethpage fans

Watson wrote, “I’d like to apologize for the rude and mean-spirited behavior from our American crowd at Bethpage.”

Then he went further, declaring that he was “ashamed” of what transpired over the weekend.

“As a former player, Captain and as an American, I am ashamed of what happened,” Watson wrote.

[CONN CHRIS]

I wish that shame would make a comeback in all areas of our public life but happy to hear it from Watson.