PGA Of America Wants To Have More People Outside Ryder Cup Ropes Than Inside

Morning Drive viewers know I was not impressed by the disrespectful behavior of the European players, media and jocksniffers gathering inside the ropes at this year's Ryder Cup. My suggestion that such behavior would not be tolerated of Americans was met on Twitter with multiple counterings of "Brookline" as an excuse for the discourteous behavior. Even thought matches were still in progress, the behavior was okay because it was Europe, having clinched the cup and still suffering the after-effects of the Brookline trauma.

(Note the photo here showing the nice mob of players and media gathering behind the hole when Zach Johnson was trying to putt on 18. Beyond tacky.)

The PGA of America has noticed the European Tour's questionable handling at Gleneagles and is promising to have fewer people inside the ropes than outside come 2016 at Hazeltine, reports Doug Ferguson.

Some have credentials. Some do not. One person at Gleneagles was the friend of a brother of a player. Other person seen inside the ropes was ... well, no one was sure.

It's not a clean look, especially with overhead views on television. And there were a few complaints from fans behind the ropes to struggled to see.

This has not escaped the attention of Ryder Cup organizers.

"It is an issue that we continue to review and monitor," Kerry Haigh, chief of championships for the PGA of America, said in an email. "As you know, there are a number of different groups that currently are allowed access inside the ropes. ... All categories and numbers are and will be reviewed and may be reduced or eliminated if we collectively feel it will be in the best interests of the Ryder Cup."

Comments

[nguyenvuminh]

Sorry Geoff, I'm still not sold.

[Jock]

Certainly one of the reasons I would never attend a Ryder Cup as a paying spectator.

[Bruce]

Your need to create drama grows. This one is a little embarrassing though Geoffory

The cup had been clinched. Unlike Jose trying with a putt with the cup still on the line
No standing on greens
There are people from the USA in your "people gathering inside the ropes" picture

Only point to be made here is it looked like the crowds had trouble seeing at times...

Please don't try compare how Americans (can't wait for big shouts of "mash potato!!!" at the next Ryder cup) behave to Europeans.

[Vwa3v60golferrr]

Throughout Ryder cup history there gave been many many jock sniffers! Let's celebrate their enthusiasm.

[Belowpar]

Having attended the K Club and Celtic Manor I can tell you the reason why it takes so long to play the games is the players wait for upto 100 hangers on to file through narrow entrance gaps and take their place on the fairways before they start their routines. Painful.
Halving those no's would easily save half an hour a game.

Not so painful was standing next to the future Mrs Luke Donald. Sadly there was more a lot than a rope dividing us. I wonder if she cherishes the memory too?

[Belowpar]

Having attended the K Club and Celtic Manor I can tell you the reason why it takes so long to play the games is the players wait for upto 100 hangers on to file through narrow entrance gaps and take their place on the fairways before they start their routines. Painful.
Halving those no's would easily save half an hour a game.

Not so painful was standing next to the future Mrs Luke Donald. Sadly there was more a lot than a rope dividing us. I wonder if she cherishes the memory too?

[easy 3 putt]

"(Note the photo here showing the nice mob of players and media gathering behind the hole when Zach Johnson was trying to putt on 18. Beyond tacky.)"

I see some red trousers on that picture, too…geoff?

[Center Cut]

Who can ever forget Faldo teeing off at the 17th at the Belfry, halfway through his swing and a loud American voice shouting 'Swallow an Apple'!!

I mean, someone compares someone talking about Reid being questioned on the tee about his putting and the abuse European WAG's got at Medinah? Reid gets asked about his putting, Rose gets asked about his late fathers cancer.

Of course, this is all jingoism

Awaiting DTF, Beaks eta l in 5-4-3-2....

[4PuttAficionado (Formerly3PA)]

Bruce, "Mash Potato" refers to the action of mashing a single potato.
Our fans proudly yell "Mashed Potatoes" which refers to more than a single potato in the mashed state and is the culinary form of Bubba Booey.
Please get off the comments section until you get it right.
USA . . USA . . . USA . . . USA . . . USA . . . . . .

[Gary Dell]

@Center Cut - so a couple of bad apples display their stupidity and now you're grouping the entire American crowd into the same boat? Shame on you.

These type of outbursts happen in any sport. Instead of handling it like professionals, the Euros b**** & moan about every little negative thing. No wonder the entire lot is so fragile.

[Stephen W]

A great many of us, both Europeans - and I suspect Americans - loath the celebrity culture that has increasingly grown about golf including the RC. It needs stopping now, Keep those inside the ropes restricted to the players, caddies, team captains and the referee. Everyone else (no matter if you're a famous basketball star or have appeared in some forgettable film) OUT!

[ol Harv]

If the gentlemen in Augusta can keep all the hangers-on behind the ropes at their little tooniment then so can the PGA, and they should. I saw a bunch of friends of friends, who I know, inside the ropes at the RC and it's out of control.

Bruce, pretty sure there's no O, just RY. That's getting annoying.

[Convert]

If they keep commoners outside the ropes and out of team rooms, where will the golfing media going to find their "sources".

[Ed]

really tired of being lectured by europeans about....anything. The idea that somehow a continent/island that produces soccer louts could lecture me on "behaviour" is insane.

[Center Cut]

@ Gary Dell - I did not group anybody or anything - I just stated a few facts. You did the grouping, and I would suggest given the recent results history, the Europeans are not as sensitive as you think.

In fact, one wonders if it assists their team siege mentality...

@ Ed - I totally agree - you can thank Jebus that Croats and Serbs ain't that into golf. I have attended some Croatian soccer games and they are really quite the most hostile environment outside of a warzone.

Of course, not a patch on the old Kosar-era Dawg Pound regulars.

[Chico]

I reffed at the K club and the only time there were more than about 20 inside the ropes were when Tiger had Bush Snr and Jnr, Clinton and Michael Jordan and their minders all on the 7th hole. They soon disappeared. This year was ridiculous and needs to be changed. I still think there is a major difference between waiting at the edge of a green for the match to finish compared to running across a green/ kissing it while astch is still going. Suppose that makes me a whining Euro?! Despite a lot of my members being involved this time I have to say I thought the marshalling was pathetic this year.

[MRT]

I still think there is a major difference between waiting at the edge of a green for the match to finish compared to running across a green/ kissing it while astch is still going.

You mean like at Medinah?

[Anthony]

Geoff, I saw you on Morning Drive and you were going on about the people still playing behind Zach, unless Glen Eagles opened up the tee to paying tourists you were out of bounds on that one. Zach was in the last group. The Cup had been decided by then. Will not bring up Brooklyn, didn't think either was of equal.

[Mike T.]

Stephen W. +1

[Jeff]

GET OVER BROOKLINE! It was 15 years ago, and does not excuse poor behavior by the Europeans (or the U.S.) into perpetuity. I'm surprised it's even controversial to take the position that the fewer people inside the ropes the better -- regardless of nationality.

[digsouth]

The extras are annoying, and this isn't even considering how bad it could get...look at football with old players, movie stars,twerkers, semi girls, and who knows whom the other 150 are. Golf is headed there. First to go, the gambling ''retiree''''returnee'' who stinks worse than his cigar

[Media driven]

The wives of PGA officers have been inside the ropes, also the wife of the exec. director or CEO (Mrs. Awtrey). I can tolerate players' wives since they're such a big part of it. I don't think writers need to be inside the ropes. TV people OK if covering matches for NBC, Sky or whatever.

Augusta does look so pristine. British Open is the worst among majors along wtih PGA.

[Middle Aged Tom]

Props to Geoff for calling the Euros out. Most writers slobber over anything not American and hate on the U.S.

[ol Harv]

" I can tolerate players' wives since they're such a big part of it. "

Media, how are they such a big part of it? When I'm at the US Open or several other events I often see the wives within the crowd. I think you hit the nail on the head though, they WANT to be a big part of it. They don't want to blend in and watch their husbands play, they want to be on display, and like you said, be a big part of it.

I never heard anything about Bubba at the RC and how he handled the increased VIP's inside the ropes. That's what drove him over the edge earlier in the year.

I know it's too late and it's become a tremendous money maker for the PGA and others, but wouldn't it be nice to go back to a simpler time like when they played at the Greenbrier and crowds were manageable??

[Center Cut]

@ media driven - Augusta is as fake as a pair of Hollywood tits. The course is ruined, killed by the ball and terrible redesigns and bunkering.

I'm neither European nor American so enjoy the hand-wringing from both - have to say a lot of USA fans seem terrible losers. And bitter!! So bitter.

Get over it. Hang on, I wrote that 2 weeks ago.

[digsouth]

Center Cut-- what an interesting post!

I;m neither either, I'm a Texan, but I wonder if, since the Euros have The St Claire's from Roslyn, if you are, well, Center Cut from Roswell?

End times and all that, you know...

[Bob]

What about Michael Jordan stalking Poulter in the previous Ryder Cup and even poking him in the chest (as documented on Golf Channel)... Should he have been inside the ropes? It's ok for the US to have extraneous non-team people insides the ropes, but not the Euros?

[Swoosh]

I've been to 2 us Ryder cups. In both cases, as a spectator u need to go holes ahead of the groups playing and wait for them to come thru in hopes of getting a view. We'd get to a tee box and wait an hr perfectly situated to see the guys tee off. Then the entourage would show up (golf carts, wife's, friends, media, whoever ) and set up in front of us inside the ropes and u couldn't see anything. This is the worst spectator event ever. The mobs inside the ropes only make it worse.

[nguyenvuminh]

Interesting perspective - neither American nor European as he's a Texan. Don't know how to think about that given the discussion about the need for unity.