{"id":208282,"date":"2025-10-18T06:56:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T06:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/208282\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T06:56:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T06:56:09","slug":"i-was-disgusted-golf-legend-labels-ryder-cup-the-worst-event-in-the-world-due-to-fan-behaviour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/208282\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I was disgusted’ – Golf legend labels Ryder Cup ‘the worst event in the world’ due to fan behaviour"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019d think Gary Player would have seen it all in the world and golf, but even he was left stunned by what he saw at the Ryder Cup.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s not in a good way either, with the nine-time major winner appalled by the goings on in New York<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ryder Cup announcer apologises to Rory McIlroy and quits after leading crass chant<\/p>\n

Team Europe beat the USA 15-13<\/a> in a remarkable sporting contest, racking up a huge lead before having to hold on against an almighty final day comeback.<\/p>\n

However, for many it was overshadowed by the American crowd<\/a>, with players abused and sworn at throughout while some even had objects thrown at them.<\/p>\n

Commenting on what he saw, 89-year-old Player said: “I look at it and I’m in a state of shock.<\/p>\n

“I think, what would Ben Hogan have said, you know? What would Byron Nelson have said? What would Arnold Palmer\u2026 If Arnold Palmer saw that today\u2026<\/p>\n

read more on the ryder cup<\/p>\n

“I was disgusted, so to me, the Ryder Cup<\/a> is a shambles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Player was referencing American golfing legends as he himself is South African.<\/p>\n

He lives in the US, though, and while he calls it the greatest country in the world, he\u2019s could end up falling out of love with the golf fans.<\/p>\n

He continued: “I love the fact that they say ‘USA, USA.’ I love how the British respond in their way. I think that’s exciting.<\/p>\n

“But the Ryder Cup to me is the worst event in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

McIlroy abuse overstepped the mark<\/p>\n

Among those targeted at Bethpage, Northern Irish legend Rory McIlroy<\/a> arguably had it the worst, constantly taunted throughout, and things overstepped the mark during Saturday\u2019s fourballs.<\/p>\n

\"McIlroy<\/a><\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

McIlroy had the last laugh with the New York crowd who continually overstepped the markCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

He and Shane Lowry<\/a> were abused for their physical appearance, while McIlroy\u2019s wife was hit with a beer.<\/p>\n

That all came after an event on Friday that was as bizarre as it was unnecessary.<\/p>\n

An announcer was seen goading the crowd<\/a> into a \u2018F*** you Rory\u2019 chant and she was then sacked, having been hired by PGA of America.<\/p>\n

In shock at that one scene in particular, Player added: \u201cTo see them hire a lady to stand on the tee \u2014 if you want to call her a lady \u2014 and saying ‘F you, Rory. F this European team\u2019…<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we crazy? And then the head of the PGA says, what was so serious about it?<\/p>\n

“Golf has never been that. Golf has been a gentleman’s sport. So, and to see that, and to see the players using this ‘F’ word, I mean, the whole lot.<\/p>\n

\"Gary<\/a><\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

Gary Player was appalled by what he saw in New YorkCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

“Is that what you want to go and see? I mean, can you imagine?<\/p>\n

“I’ve got all these grandchildren. If I had to sit there and hear that, I don’t know what I’d do.”<\/p>\n

Discussing what can be done to improve matters, he offered some advice to the PGA of America.<\/p>\n

“If their young players swear and misbehave, don’t put them on a team,” Player said. “And tell them about the game because the next era could become a lot worse if we’re not careful.”<\/p>\n

Tom Watson joins the Ryder Cup condemnation <\/p>\n

Many have spoken out in condemnation of the US crowd, and while Player\u2019s comments carry plenty of weight due to his legendary status, they\u2019ve been added to by a prominent American.<\/p>\n

Eight time major winner and two-time US captain Tom Watson was just as disgusted as Player, even apologising to Team Europe in a statement.<\/p>\n

\"Watson<\/a><\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

Watson felt the need to apologise on behalf of his countrymenCredit: Movistar+<\/p>\n

“I\u2019d like to congratulate Team Europe on their victory,” he wrote in a social media post. “Your team play the first few days was sensational.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMore importantly, I\u2019d like to apologise for the rude and mean-spirited behavior from our American crowd at Bethpage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a former player, captain and as an American, I am ashamed of what happened.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You\u2019d think Gary Player would have seen it all in the world and golf, but even he was…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":208283,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[5904,6670,27632,6547,69995,28004,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-208282","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-golf","9":"tag-golf-news","10":"tag-golf-updates","11":"tag-ryder-cup","12":"tag-ryder-cup-fans","13":"tag-ryder-cup-news","14":"tag-sports","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=208282"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208282\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/208283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=208282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}