Ryder Cup 99 At Brookline

JCDUB

I was watching a replay of the 99 Ryder Cup at Brookline last night on Setanta Golf.
I remember watching it at the time and the uproar after the american crowd ran onto the green when it wasn't even over etc. etc. but I only watched the first half of this programme last night (i.e. the fourball and foursomes) and even then the behaviour of the American players was despicable.
After they got any sort of a putt or hit a half way decent iron shot they were whooopin and roaring and making gestures at the crowd, just being generally ignorant and (in my opinion) stereotypically American.
I reckon they were equally if not more culpable than the crowd for inciting them to behave in the manner they did.
Right from the off they were being loud and obnoxious, therefore setting the wrong example to the crowd and giving them carte blanche to do the exact same.
In fairness Garcia and Parnevik did a fair few boisterous high fives, but Garcia was 19 at the time and obviously pumped, along with being wound up by the USA chants etc.
Plus they played unbelievably well, taking 3 and a half from four points in the foursomes and fourball, an incredible achievement considering Garcia was a rookie and the partisan crowd!!

Anyhow, I'm sure most of you would only be going by memory now and tbh if I hadn't seen it last night I wouldn't have remembered much, but what do you reckon on the whole unsporting conduct in that specific Ryder Cup issue?
I think the Americans disgraced themselves and that fact will live longer in peoples memories than the fact that they won the Ryder Cup in 99.

Excuse the rant, I feel much better now.

Aesop

Of the last 6 Ryder Cups it's the only one they have won so they are bound to get a bit excited by the whole thing

One Cold Hand

I remember them being disgraceful. Not only after Leonard putt when they ran all over Ollie line, but in general. I think Monty was terrorised for the whole thing and subjected to terrible abuse. One nice thing I remember is Payne Steward either halving or giving Monty the last hole in the very last match to save him the embarasment of walking down the 18th in front of the hostile American crowd. Lovely jesture from Steward who died soon after.

seanieclarke

payne stewart,i vaguely remember him but he did seem like a true gent and if he did that to monty then he must have had a heart of gold.

i can only remember the very latter stages of the competition.although the americans were, from the little i did see, a bit o.t.t. i think it just goes to show how patriotic they are and how much they wanted to win.

Trampas

Payne said to Monty i think on the 1st hole that if you have any problems he would get it sorted.

Or along does lines.

He was a right gentleman. Not many like him out there

FRM

Brookline and Kiawah Island always stick in my mind.

I do always remember Seve and Ollie having a go on the tee about the Yanks swapping golf balls..... saying along the lines that you are cheating b*stards.....

Also remember at Kiawah Corey 'oh how I'd love to punch his face in' Pavin chasing down a splash from the bunker.... used to like him up till that moment...

f22

Unlike in alot of Europe, the crowds you get at many US events are uneducated about the game. It's treated like baseball with all the "hoopin and hollerin" that goes with it.

European fans tend to be alot more cultured and travelled and respectful of the game. Good shots are cheered no matter who play them.

Agree JC, the behavior of the US players and crowd at Brookline was a disgrace and was an embarassment to the game. Reminds me of the treatment Monty used to get over there. Fair enough he can be a grumpy bollix but nobody deserves to be abused like that.

Mister Sifter

Payne Stewart lost his 1999 Ryder Cup singles match to Colin Montgomerie - but could have salvaged a half had he not conceded the final putt to Monty. Unfortunately Stewart was the exception rather than the rule when it comes to american golfers.