The Ryder Cup will be remembered for the Europeans’ sensational play during the first two days and the terrific fightback from the United States on Sunday.
However, fans of the game will also associate the 2025 Ryder Cup with some of the most disgraceful scenes ever witnessed at a professional golf event.
Brandel Chamblee has shared something very specific he saw which he found truly ‘disgusting’.
Chamblee has been highly critical of the US Ryder Cup setup, from the fact that the players received payment to play at Bethpage Black to some of Keegan Bradley‘s horrendous decision making.
In fact, Chamblee questioned many of Bradley’s decisions at the Ryder Cup, and rightly so.
Bradley’s performance as the captain of the US team has been one of the biggest talking points over the past couple of days.
However, one of the other main points of discussion has been the downright nasty behavior of some of the US Ryder Cup fans.
Now Chamblee has highlighted something he saw which embarrassed him.
Brandel Chamblee says he witnessed something ‘disgusting’ at the Ryder Cup
Chamblee was clearly ashamed of the actions of some fans at Bethpage.
He shared one moment in particular that was simply unacceptable.
When speaking on the Favorite Chamblee Podcast, Chamblee shared something he saw at Bethpage which he found disgusting.
“I was a little surprised at the insults hurled at European players, and I don’t know that any European player escaped the insults.
“But some of them were just so bad, so personal. They were hurling insults at Rory’s wife, and I saw a beer thrown at her head.
“I think it was Justin Rose who said she never brought it up like she was aggrieved or anything, which all credit to her.
“They were calling Shane Lowry fat, someone ridiculous comedian, I don’t know who hired her, they started a chant on the first tee of, ‘FU Rory, FU Rory’. How disgusting, how disgusting.
“Imagine you’re out there, and take your kids out there, you’re in the stands ready to go and they want to start a profane chant to Rory McIlroy who all he does is handle himself with class.
“Rory was saying, ‘why aren’t you cheering for your guy, lift them up, why are you insulting us’?
“Why were they attacking those guys? They were putting up a show for us.
“You should be able to go to a golf tournament and not hear 100s of people hurling obscene insults at the players, their wives and families. I just think it was pretty embarrassing, honestly.“
Ryder Cup change needs to happen now before things get worse
In order to evoke genuine change, steps have to be taken now to ensure that we never see the scenes we saw at Bethpage ever again.
Perhaps strict rules need to be brought in, such as a ban on alcohol consumption during the event? Or maybe higher security is required during the matches.
Sure, golf is a sport played by top level athletes, but there has always been a certain level of sportsmanship and decorum from both the players and the fans associated with the game that isn’t often present in other sports.
If nothing changes ahead of Adare Manor in 2027, a signal will be sent to fans that what happened at Bethpage Black was acceptable, and we all know that was far from the case.
Hopefully the European players urge the crowds in Ireland to get behind their team, rather than abuse their opponents.
Tom Watson actually apologized for the actions of some of his fellow countrymen at Bethpage.
“I’d like to congratulate Team Europe on their victory,” Watson posted. “Your team’s play in the first few days was sensational.
“More importantly, I’d like to apologize for the rude and mean-spirited behavior from our American crowd at Bethpage. As a former player, Captain, and American, I am ashamed of what happened.”
Maybe even more high-profile American players need to come out and echo Watson’s sentiment regarding fan behavior at the Ryder Cup.
It wasn’t acceptable and something needs to change moving forward.
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