The week after the Ryder Cup is sometimes just as juicy as what happens during Ryder Cup week. GOLF’s writers and editors break down the fallout from Bethpage Black, the reaction to unruly fans, who should captain next, and more.
In the days after Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black, much of the conversation has focused on the fans, the heckling and the reaction to it, by players, golf legends, organizers and more. Is the Ryder Cup experience out of control? Or is some of this overblown?
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): Loud and partisan crowds are what makes the Ryder Cup fun, but it sounds like this year things went over the top. The kind of vitriol that was reported is against the spirit of the event — and the sport itself — and that’s a shame, because rowdy atmospheres can and should still be respectful. It’s what makes tournaments like the WM Phoenix Open so beloved. But there’s obviously a fine line there.
Sean Zak, senior writer (@sean_zak): Wouldn’t call it “out of control,” but rather “un-controlled.” Event organizers clearly did not have the proper protocols in place to manage for unrelenting verbal abuse. I think you saw that in their removing certain hecklers from certain pairings. I.e. it’s okay to take your absurd show to another part of the property, rather than expelling them period. I’m not going to act like it’s simple — but I think there wasn’t enough control, and we’d benefit to see more of it four years from now at Hazeltine.
Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): I think Rory McIlroy’s comments on Sunday night hit the nail on the head. Golf can hold itself to higher standard. The Ryder Cup and the Phoenix Open are the only tournaments of the year where you even hear boos on the course. How it could devolve so far for people to be calling McIlroy slurs and throwing things at his wife, not to mention people screaming while Euro players were over shots? There’s a clear and obvious line and it was crossed and fans who took part in that should be ashamed of themselves.
If something does need to be changed, what’s the move?
Zak: Better communication — including from the captain — better messaging by the emcee, better precedents set early in the week, etc. Oh, and when it seems to be brewing, get out ahead of it. On Saturday morning rather than Monday morning. Talking to fans waiting half-a-hole ahead of the groups receiving the worst of it. That wasn’t happening.
Marksbury: Blatantly disruptive behavior should not be tolerated, full stop. There needs to be enough staff members in place to identify instigators and remove them — not to a new spot on the course, but off the property.
Hirsh: These are both good, but I saw a tweet on Monday I agree with. Because the pricing of tickets at this Ryder Cup was so absurd, the only people who could afford had no fear of retribution of what they did. I think the PGA priced out the very people who would have appreciated the chance to watch the Ryder Cup.
The next Ryder Cup is two years away at Adare Manor in Ireland, and now the conversation turns to who leads the two squads. Does Luke Donald come back for three in a row? And who leads the U.S.?
Zak: I’m guessing Luke will want to know who he’s up against, since captains are often remembered in respect to their competition. He won’t rush into that decision, and will have six months or so to settle into it. That said, I bet he does it again. He seems to enjoy it a lot.
For the Americans … hmph. The shortlist seems to be 5-deep. Keegan Bradley, Stewart Cink, Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods. The one I think will do the best job is … Furyk. But Bradley would do well, I think. Plenty of this year’s Cup was out of his control, as is often the case.
Marksbury: It sure sounded like Luke would strongly consider giving a three-peat a go. I’d actually like to see Keegan get one more shot, if he’d be up to it. It seemed like the U.S. players enjoyed his leadership and that’s saying something after a loss. Given the list of other names Sean floated, I’m not sure who the next pick would be.
Hirsh: Zak, I believe it was you who mentioned the next U.S. captain should have the captaincy until he loses. Donald hasn’t lost and seems to have everything covered. Even if he goes for three wins and loses, he will still go down as one of the best European Ryder Cup captains.
For the U.S., I don’t even know at this point. Tiger seems the obvious choice, but not sure if he could foster the team atmosphere that Europe has succeeded with. I say go back to Steve Stricker. Not even sure why he wasn’t the captain in Rome.
In the lead-up to Bethpage, Keegan Bradley had the opportunity to be a playing-captain, although he elected not to pick himself and, in hindsight, it could have hurt the Americans without having him as a player. Should the PGA of America avoid this situation in 2027 so Bradley has an opportunity to contribute as a player?
Zak: Eh, we shouldn’t count on a 41-year-old version of Keegan Bradley to be the best version of Keegan Bradley. Particularly with the many younger Americans who will certainly be better than 41-y.o. Keegs. It might make most sense to offer the job to Bradley tomorrow and say, “We’ll handle the playing-captain thing again if you happen to be crushing it in 18 months.”
Marksbury: Given the way Keegan has played these last two years, he may want to focus fully on getting on the team himself! I’m sure the stress of a captaincy is even more draining than it appears. So yes, if Keegan is the pick, I agree with Sean — they should lock him in ASAP.
Hirsh: I don’t think Keegan should be captain in 2027, so this isn’t an issue to me!
Robert MacIntyre won a weather-shortened Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the DP World Tour stop that plays bucket-list courses like the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. With visits to these venues (and the above average fields it usually produces), is the Dunhill the most underrated stop in pro golf? If not, what is?
Zak: It’s on the short list. The Aussie Open is right up there, though. It routinely visits some of the best golf on the planet, and Melbourne in December doubles as a much better vacation destination than Fife in October, with all due respect to my Scottish friends.
Marksbury: From an eye-candy perspective, I’m partial to the European Masters, and the epic views on display at Switzerland’s Crans-sur-Sierre GC.
Hirsh: It’s kind of fun to know that St. Andrews gets a tournament every year. It’s basically the DP World Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach. I’ll also throw up the Irish Open in years it goes to Royal County Down.
