There is absolutely no question at all that the name Brookline will forever be etched in Ryder Cup folklore after one of the most infamous weekends in golf’s modern history 25 years ago.
Heading into the 1999 Ryder Cup, Europe were looking for an unprecedented third victory in a row after winning the trophy back at Oak Hill in 1995 before Seve Ballesteros led his side across the line at Valderrama two years later.
But the Americans had reason to be optimistic. Their lowest ranked player was world number 28 Steve Pate, while world number two David Duval was the only rookie on Ben Crenshaw’s team. Europe meanwhile, had seven rookies in their side.
Nevertheless, it was the holders who flew out of the blocks, taking a 10-6 lead over the first two days. The partnership of Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik, in particular, lit up the event, as they won 3.5 points together.
David Duval reveals what many got wrong about the US team in the 1999 Ryder Cup
It would have certainly played into the narrative that the American team of superstars could simply not replicate the team spirit the Europeans had – or that they perhaps simply did not want to attempt to. But speaking on the No Laying Up Podcast, Duval insisted that that perception was so far wide of the mark.
“Well, the American team, our side got beat on pretty good and had been getting beat on up until that Ryder Cup, I’m talking about previous Ryder Cups before it. It was almost like ‘there was no passion for it, we didn’t care’, and it’s just the furthest thing from the truth,” he said.
“The camaraderie, on the golf course as we’re playing, practicing, in the team room is every bit as great as you would expect or want it to be as a fan or a captain or an assistant captain. The first couple of days, nothing went our way at all, the European side pitched it in; if they pitched it in five times, we pitched it in one time, and they made the 30 footers and 40 footers that flip matches.”
Ben Crenshaw knew what was coming on Sunday
Of course, what happened next saw Brookline write its name in the history books. Crenshaw insisted that he had a good feeling about his team heading into the Sunday singles, and he was helped by European captain Mark James deciding to leave the majority of his big guns down the bottom of the order.
In fact, three of the top five European players in the order had not played at all that week. USA would win all five of those matches, while it was Duval beating Parnevik in match six which put the home side ahead for the first time. It was a lead which they would hold onto Justin Leonard holed that stunning putt on 17 in his match with Jose Maria Olazabal which essentially secured their victory.
Brookline is, understandably, remembered for some of the unsavoury scenes which involved some of those behind the ropes. And perhaps no Ryder Cup has played more of a part in building the rivalry between the two teams which has made winning an away event one of the hardest challenges in elite golf – Europe have been the only away side to win since, with Olazabal’s men coming from 10-6 down themselves at Medinah in 2012.
The Americans meanwhile, have gradually got a lot better at conveying a much stronger team spirit. It appears that the team is a lot closer than they appeared to be in those days.
But perhaps the perception that the Europeans had the much better spirit was wrong all along.
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