Team Europe captain Luke Donald has admitted home fans have “crossed the line” during the Ryder Cup this weekend, as tensions have continuously risen, and often boiled over.
Europe have taken complete control at Bethpage Black, storming to an 11.5-4.5 advantage over the United States after two days of remarkable golf.
Donald’s team have achieved something no visiting side has managed before; winning all four opening sessions on American soil.
It’s been a brilliant display from the Europeans, who secured both foursomes sessions 3-1 and split the fourballs to maintain their dominance.
Team Europe have dominated at the Ryder Cup so far
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The visitors now need just three more points to retain the trophy, with a chance to secure their first victory in the States since 2012.
This marks only the fifth time an away team has won the first three sessions in the tournament’s 45-year history, making their achievement in the hostile New York atmosphere even more impressive.
But the spectacular golf has been overshadowed by controversy over crowd behaviour.
Team Europe captain Luke Donald admitted home fans have “crossed the line”, as tensions have continuously risen, and boiled over, during the Ryder Cup this weekend
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European captain Donald has accused American fans of “crossing the line” during Saturday’s play.
“What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines. That did happen a little bit,” Donald said.
Rory McIlroy bore the brunt of the heckling throughout both Saturday sessions. The Northern Irishman was repeatedly targeted as he prepared to play shots, leading him to shout back at one fan during the morning round.
Rory McIlroy refused to putt for four minutes until the crowd quietened as tensions boiled over at Bethpage Black
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REUTERSHis afternoon match had to be stopped several times, with even his American opponent Justin Thomas calling for calm from the galleries.
The tensions spilled over into a heated press conference exchange between the two captains.
US skipper Keegan Bradley reacted furiously when asked about the crowd’s behaviour.
“Ryder Cups are wild. I don’t appreciate those words that you just said,” Bradley shot back at Donald. “I know what you’re trying to do. The Ryder Cup is full of passionate fans, they’re full of passionate players.”
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Bradley, who’d been actively rallying the home support all week and ran down the 18th with an American flag during practice, defended the New York galleries.
“I thought the fans were passionate. I wasn’t at Rome but I heard a lot of stories that Rome was pretty violent as well,” he said.
“You’re always going to have a few people that cross the line and that’s unfortunate.”
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Team USA captain Keegan Bradley admitted: ‘You’re always going to have a few people that cross the line and that’s unfortunate’
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Despite the hostile atmosphere, Europe delivered a masterclass on Saturday.
McIlroy showed incredible composure to secure a crucial point alongside Shane Lowry, with his birdie on the 14th proving decisive against Thomas and Cameron Young.
Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose demolished world No1 Scottie Scheffler, whose disastrous fourballs record continued, and Bryson DeChambeau, with Rose’s brilliant putting winning four holes.
World No1 Scottie Scheffler has endured a nightmare weekend so far, losing all four of his matches
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The match saw tempers flare when Rose asked DeChambeau’s caddie to move from his eyeline, leading to a heated argument between Fleetwood and DeChambeau that required separation.
Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick snatched a dramatic victory on the 18th after Fitzpatrick’s stunning bunker shot.
Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka narrowly lost their match, surrendering the final two holes to JJ Spaun and Xander Schauffele.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s singles, Donald has loaded his lineup with Europe’s strongest performers early.
Justin Rose leads off against Cameron Young, followed by the in-form Tommy Fleetwood facing Justin Thomas.
Matt Fitzpatrick takes on the fiery DeChambeau before a blockbuster clash between McIlroy and the struggling Scheffler, who’s lost all four of his matches so far.
“We’re trying to kind of match them with some strength,” Donald explained. “We have 12 very good players. In singles you have to go a little bit with gut instincts.
“We came here to try and win, to try and create history. We love to do things that haven’t been done before.”
