For the first time in thirteen years, Europe won a Ryder Cup on American soil, surprising golf players and fans alike. One of the PGA’s most prestigious biennial team golf competitions, in which 12 of the best European golfers face off against 12 of the best American golfers in a series of team and individual matches, the Ryder Cup was held this year at the Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York. Lasting from September 26 until September 28, the three-day event had both teams striving to score 14.5 points, the amount needed to win the cup.
Before the event, projections stated that it would drive approximately one-hundred-sixty-million dollars into Long Island’s economy. The total income earned by workers alone is expected to be fifty-seven million dollars. Bryan Karns, the director of the Ryder Cup, stated that “When including the entire state of New York, the Ryder Cup will leave an economic impact far more than $200 million.” Additionally, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) added more than nine trains per day from Tuesday until Sunday in order to generate more income and help golf fans reach Bethpage easier.
This renowned event was planned over the course of sixty months. According to Forbes, in order to accommodate the plethora of spectators and fans, the venue encompassed almost two million square feet of decking, three hundred fifty tents, twenty helicopter zones, and over twenty miles of fencing to host the massive crowds.
Throughout the duration of the event, many unnecessary and impudent remarks were made from both the American and European supporters. American fans chanted profane and inappropriate phrases. The bantering turned physical at times, with a beer bottle being thrown in the direction of European golfer Rory McIlroy’s wife. The yelling became so intolerable that various law enforcement agencies were forced to step in and patrol areas closely.
Despite the complications, many people suspect that a remark made by an American golfer played a crucial role in the attitudes and actions of the American spectators. In a pre-event press conference, two-time winner Collin Morikawa said, “I’ll be honest, I think it’s kind of tame so far. I hope Friday is just absolute chaos. I’m all for it. I think it feeds into who we are, as American players and the American team. We want it. We want to use that to our advantage.” While numerous articles online are shifting blame onto the golfer, Morikawa denies all accusations of negatively influencing the atmosphere during the competition.
Following the three-day event, both sides agree that the booing and negative atmosphere quickly got out of hand. As a result, many well known attendees of the event personally apologized to the European golf team. PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague, President Don Rea, and even former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson stated that the behavior was unacceptable and apologized on behalf of the American fans.
