DVR Alert: The Ryder Cup The Euros Are Still Really, Really Bitter About!

Golf Channel, Tuesday night. The shirts, the celebration that still irks them and the "I've got a feeling" Ryder Cup.

1999 Ryder Cup – Final Day
Airtime: Tuesday, 8:30-11:30 p.m. ET

Golf Channel looks back at the thrilling final day of the 1999 Ryder Cup from Brookline, Mass., when Team U.S.A. embarked on the largest come-from-behind victory in Ryder Cup history to retain the Ryder Cup.

Comments

[benseattle]

I have a question about the oft-repeated accusation by the Euros that blast members of the American team for "running over the putting line of Olazabal" on their way to celebrate the putt of Justin Leonard.

DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN? Yes, you can see that some Americans were on the putting green during this discourteous, over-the-top eruption, but TV shots are far from conclusive.

Was anybody there? Did the USA stomp on Jose Maria's line? If so, the visitors probably have a point.

[Sari]

Right up there with the 86 Masters as the two greatest golf events I ever saw (on TV, at least).

[Hawkeye]

@benseattle, whether they stomped on Olazabal's line or not doesn't really matter. If your teammate's opponent has a putt to tie the hole, the green is off limits. But more than anything, Mark James threw that one away with his Sunday lineup, placing Coltart, Van de Velde and Sandelin in the momentum-building third, fourth and fifth slots.

[Peter Norrie]

The title should be - "The Ryder Cup the Americans are still really, really embarrassed about."

[act38]

It can forget the trampling on Olazabal's line, but those shirts that were unforgivable.

[act38]

Although on reflection, Europe is responsible for Ian Poulter and his appalling attire. Lets call it even and move on.

[WT]

act38^^^

Agreed, I was sitting in the grill room of Hidden Creek where Crenshaw's Ryder Cup Polo was on display. Remembering it from the highlights, I pointed it out to a friend who, not knowing what it was, remarked that it was the ugliest piece of art he had ever seen.

[Chema]

1999 was one of the most egregious displays of poor sportsmanship in the history of the game. The UK tabloids nailed it:

The Daily Mirror: "United Slobs of America."
The Sun: "Disgusting".
The Daily Mail: "Disgraceful".
The Express: "Bitter End"

Olazabal was, of course, very gracious afterwards, despite what those yobs did to him on 17.

[act38]

@WT

Funny. The Ryder Cup has quite a history of bad shirts but that would be #1 worst.

[thusgone]

okay, it was appallingly poor sportsmanship, but 1999 was a long time ago and everyone has apologized. can we get over this now?

[Stiggy]

As a European let me know i don't personally know any of my family or friends who are still bitter over this.

[KLG]

I trampled all over the line of a fellow competitor's short birdie putt on the second hole at a qualifier a couple of weeks ago. I apologized at the time and when we left the 18th green. I still feel like a heel. He seemed to take it well, but you never know...

[Ghillie]

Hey, I hated the rush of the green -- and several other instances of boorish behaviour at Brookline, some by the fans but incited and encouraged by the team -- as much as anyone. But they did apologise for it, didn't they? I think they WERE embarrrassed, to the point that subsequent captains -- from both sides -- worked very hard to reinstate an aura of civility to the matches. Never seems to have reduced the intensity and excitement of the competition, but the atmosphere has been much more pleasant.

But Hawkeye is not wrong in criticising Mark James, whose attitude to his Captain's pick Coltart (wrong choice at the time) and the two players he was saddled with and didn't like -- Van de Velde and Sandelin -- was brutal and stupid. His Friday and Saturday success looks, in retrospect, to be the best proof that once the games begin the Captain becomes irrelevant -- these guys knew how to play team golf. If he had played his unholy trinity they might have gained a little confidence, partnered by more experienced golfers -- the outcome could have been the same. They might have thought that they were in with a chance and Sunday might not have been so difficult for them, and the others. The US had a terrific team of singles players that year, and Europe had almost all the lead they could have anticipated going in, but as Monty said to Parnevik on the Saturday night, he just didn't see the remaining points were going to come from against that strong lineup. And he had three players who, for months, and certainly that week, had been virtually unknown quantities.

James had two jobs to do come Friday -- play his players and maximise his Sunday strategy. He did neither. Instead he sat the three perceived weakest links on Friday and Saturday, and in the singles put those three in against Mickelson, Love and Woods, whom he might have anticipated would be the heart of the US lineup. It is a tribute to the European team that the outcome was as close as it was -- people tend to forget that the result was a one-stroke difference.

But it was thirteen years ago, and this will be the sixth Cup played since it happened. It might be time to forget it -- subsequqent matches showed that many of the same players who were there managed to do that. The Golf Channel choosing to celebrate the Sunday alone -- despite the historic value of the come-from-behind effort -- without showing why they were so far behind is provocative, and almost seems to be meant to incite the fans at Medinah to the sort of nasty rah-rah jingoism that was the root of the trouble at Brookline in the first place.

[BrianS]

I have really enjoyed the full round replays that they have done this year, as compared to the produced "Highlights of .... shows. Along those lines, does anyone know if there is a marketplace for full event DVDs, complete with original commentary ? For maybe 10 or so events, I would love to have those.

[Manos]

The only Ryder Cup that spawned 2 books by the Euro captain. The first titled "Boo Hoo Hoo," the second "Boo Hoo Hoo, The Sequel." I see the whining hasn't stopped from the usual gang of muppets. Makes it that much sweeter.

[BrianS]

Wow, those shirts really are awful. If I remember, their outfits the other days were pretty standard, conservative stuff.

[Ghillie]

The ultimate compliment to a US Ryder Cup team's costumes is "forgettable."

We remember all too many!

[Shum Shum]

That was the first time I've seen more than the highlights since watching it live 13 years ago. Sure, it was bad form by the US after Leonard's putt, buf it doesn't appear that anyone ran through Ollie's line, and there was about five minutes of near dead silence after the green cleared in which JMO lined up his putt from all sides, conferred with his caddie, and even backed off after a bus revved it's engine. That is more than enough time for a "mental reset". There is no way that by the time he stroked the putt that the US outburst could or should have had an affect on the ultimate outcome. So, after 13 years of casting a mostly critical eye on the US, I've changed my mind. The reaction by James and Euro team was major-league sour grapes.

[Seitz]

**1999 was one of the most egregious displays of poor sportsmanship in the history of the game.**

I agree. Harrington's conduct was downright atrocious.

[Brad]

Whoa Ghillie, you got to learn to chill some.

Showing the last round of a long ago Ryder Cup is hardly provocative and inciteful

[Geoff]

I always defended the shirts but boy, did they look awful in that replay.

Anyone care to guess how many lbs. Monty has added? I didn't recognize him the first time he was shown.

And how much shorter were they hitting it just 13 years ago??

[Ghillie]

Brad, it's provocative if without complete context.

As for Manos...I hope he's not at Medinah. We can do without that sort of "fan."

[BrianS]

Agree after the re-view that the condemnation of the celebrations were (like the celebrations) a bit over the top. Ollie had time to make his putt without interference. Is it a shocker that they guy who carries a grudge against Harrington for so long, got prickly about it and refused to let it pass? No. My other reaction though is how silly JL was for celebrating like that when he could have still been tied by Ollie, who's putt seemed very make able. I was a little disappointed that NBC didn't hightlight (at the time) the good sportsmanship of Payne, who conceeded the last hole and the match to Monty. That was well done by Payne.

[thusgone]

i have never been a fan of payne stewart's, but i agree that his concession to monty was a class act, it stood out all the more so because of all the other bad behavior at the 99 rc matches. good on ya, payne.

[Manos]

I still submit that what Bernard Gallacher did at Celtic Manor was far, far worse than anything the U.S. did at Brookline. Gallacher, while allegedly working for the BBC, interrupted play by screaming abuse at Jeff Overton. I believe this was premeditated, as Gallacher thought he could rattle and intimidate a rookie. (He didn't, as Overton went on to win his match) Naturally, our good friends the Brits have nothing, nothing at all, to say about this incident. And he wasn't sanctioned, either by the Euro Tour or the BBC. In fact, I would bet he's in attendance at Medinah with a special badge and everything. Just goes to show you why they call them the hypobrits.

[Stiggy]

Manos, i agree with you that what Bernard Gallacher did was totally out of order.

[act38]

@Manos

Hope you don't mind if I examine your post in a little more detail.

"I still submit that what Bernard Gallacher did at Celtic Manor was far, far worse than anything the U.S. did at Brookline."

OK, but bearing in mind that Gallacher was not part of the Euro team, carry on

"Gallacher, while allegedly working for the BBC..."

I can confirm that he was indeed working for the BBC.

"...interrupted play by screaming abuse at Jeff Overton."

The incident was during a ruling in which the referee and players were standing together talking

"I believe this was premeditated..."

OK, fair enough but there is no evidence that was the case. And it was also in relation to Jeff Overton questioning a ruling, so it's not a particularly easy incident to forsee in advance. Maybe BG can see into the future. Keep going.

"..., as Gallacher thought he could rattle and intimidate a rookie. (He didn't, as Overton went on to win his match)"

As you say he didn't, which casts further doubt as to whether your theory is really very watertight

"Naturally, our good friends the Brits have nothing, nothing at all, to say about this incident."

I do, and just have. It was also well reported at the time.

"And he wasn't sanctioned, either by the Euro Tour or the BBC. In fact, I would bet he's in attendance at Medinah with a special badge and everything."

I'm sure special badges aren't given out that easily. Whatever they are.

"Just goes to show you why they call them the hypobrits."

Does that word even exist?

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

Nice one act38 ... although I doubt it will shut the current resident wum up.

[Okko]

Lest we all forget Leonard was 4 down after 11 and won the next four holes to square the match before sinking the putt heard round the world on The Country Club's historically pivotal 17th hole, Elbow. It is duly noted that Ben Crenshaw kneeled on the 17th green to kiss the ghosts of the champions; Ouimet, Boros, Sigel and Strange and the shipwrecked Vardon, Ray, Palmer, and Cupit. It was also well chronicled and well known in the U.S. locker room that Leonard was the Americans side's whipping boy for Johnny Miller during the broadcasts.

So I'd choose to forgive the irrational exuberence or pure unrestrained release of emotion for Leonard and his teammates in not only sinking the pivotal putt but literally resurrecting the opportunity for victory for his side.

[Boomer]

Manos, I bought both books, and they were filled with page after page of whining and crying, and devoid of any discussion of actual golf, which really came as no surprise. Every time I hear some EuroSnob sniveling about "poor sportsmanship" it's dead solid perfect that they just got their collective butt handed to them on a platter. So it was at Brookline in '99. Although 'Boo Hoo Hoo, The Sequel' was shorter, so I gave it three stars at Amazon.

As for your remarks on Gallacher, well, what can I say? The sneering Brit decided to go from a member of the press to hooligan fan in a failed attempt to affect the outcome of the event. That the result was negative takes nothing away from his disgusting behavior, and in the subsequent years I've read much on his conduct, and yet not a single word of apology. Compare his conduct to that of Johnny Miller at Brookline, where Miller spoke volumes on the failure of the Yanks during the first two days, enough so that they used it as motivation. Apparently, sportsmanship to Gallacher doesn't mean quite what it means to me.

And don't pay any attention to Ghillie. If you can get to Medinah, by all means do so. It's a magnificent course, and the golf should be top notch. If, however, you can't get there, come on over to my house, and we'll watch on the big screen. The beer is a lot cheaper, the bathroom is closer and cleaner, and my wife makes a magnificent lasagna.

[Manos]

Thanks Boomer, if I was out there I'd take you up on that. It's sad that Brits feel they have to stick up for Gallacher just because he hails from their particular plot of soil. Very sad indeed. But revealing.

[The Boike-Meister General]

Compare this incident to what happened in the match between McGinley and Henry in 2006. A streaker ran on the green and McGinely instantly agreed to halve the match with Henry, when there was a 90% chance or greater that he (McGinley) would have won it.

OK, the match itself wasn't all that close, but it still shows a stark contrast between decent sportsmanship and the 'win at all costs' mentality that the US team carried with them in 1999. Several of the US team accused Mark James and Torrance of whinging because they lost. The truth is that the US team resorted to inciting the crowd and general gamesmanship because they couldn't bear to lose.

Curtis Strange should be appladed because he went out of his way to make sure that nothing similar happened in 2002, but Paul Azinger disgracefully did it again in 2008 with his cries for the "13th man". He might as well have said "try and put the other team off". By all means get behind your team but attempting to incite the crowd, especially after 91 and 99, is foolish in my view because many of them will overreact and take it too far. The European team has not said much about 2008 because they don't want to be labelled whingers, but the crowd's behaviour was disgraceful, and Azinger encouraged it. As Montgomerie said during a match in 99, its a golf game not a football match.

If Leonard or Crenshaw had had any dignity whatsoever they would have simply conceded Olazabal's putt. Besides which, I have never heard Crenshaw, Leonard, Lehman actually apologise for their behaviour. All they have said is 'sure we got a bit over exuberant' and 'maybe it was a bit wrong', but haven't really admitted what a disgrace it really was.. To be fair Woods has apologised and acknowledged that it was totally out of order

[Manos]

Aussies are right, Whinging Poms isn't just a mythical stereotype. Every single post confirms this. Now where is Gallacher's apology?

[The Boike-Meister General]

Manos - if your last post is directed at me, you should know that I'm from South Africa, which if you didn't know, isn't part of Europe

[The Boike-Meister General]

What the press said at the time:

"There was a large and boisterous crowd on hand, and the unfortunate part is they were too large and too boisterous. They heckled Colin Montgomerie. They didn't belong at The Country Club, they belonged in a different element." The Boston Globe

"The entire US team violated every principle of proper golf decorum and decent manners. Could you be much more unsporting? Probably not." Los Angeles Times

"It seems an American team can't get through an international competition without acting like jackasses at some point." The Washington Post

[Manos]

Wow, that's even more pathetic--a South African who has nothing better to do with his free time than dig up old news stories about a sporting event that had nothing to do with him or his country. Is life getting a bit dull behind your walled compound?

[The Boike-Meister General]

Manos, perhaps you'd like to expalin why: -

a) it is "pathetic" for me to comment on this blog, and that I have 'nothing better to do with my spare time', whilst it's ok for you to do so?
b) why exactly you refer to South Africa as a 'walled compound'? Do you actually know anything about the place?

I came on here to offer my views on a blog about golf, just like you. I didn't see anything that says you have to be from a certain country in order to offer an opinion.

My point is that the US team has been responsible for several examples of poor sportsmanship and disgracful behaviour that does not befit the Ryder cup, eg:

- inciting the crowd to become racous and to try and put the Eurpoean team off
- invading the green after Leonards putt went in even though the match was still alive and JMO had a critical putt
- failing to concede the putt to JMO, which would have been the sporting thing to do, and what McGinley did in 2006
- after most of the golfing community recognised that this incident had been verty wrong and bad for golf, Paul Azinger decides to call for the "13th man", which basically encouraged the US fans to be as unruly as possible. Lee Westwood said that the abuse he received there was much worse than in 1999. Azinger must have had rocks for brains to have said that.

It doesn't really matter to me where you are from, that was bad for golf and I hope we don't see it again. What's disappointing about it is that the likes of Crenshaw are not big enough to admit that it was totally against the spirit of golf and the RC, and then Azinger just goes and encourages more of tjhe same. They should be ashamed of themselves. To be fair, Woods and Lehman are two people who come out later and expressed regret about 1999.

If anything is pathetic, it's that your only response is to start aiming abuse at me and at a country that you probably know nothing about. Quite ironic too, seeing as though the topic is about how the US fans and team resorted to abuse during the Ryder Cup. All you've really succeeded in doing is to prove the point that you're trying to argue against.

Maybe you would like to post something about the actual topic that is being debated instead of firing off insults?

[Manos]

You're not worth a debate, you're just a long-winded moron and probably one of Ghillie's alternate handles.

[The Boike-Meister General]

Manos - well done. You have managed to illustrate my point far more effectively in one sentence than I could possibly have done in my supposed 'long winded' fashion. Priceless!