Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood were truly superb against Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler in the Saturday afternoon four-balls at the Ryder Cup.
Rose and his fellow Englishman Fleetwood won the match 3&2, but their sensational golf was perhaps overshadowed by a big fall-out on the 15th green just after DeChambeau rolled in his birdie putt for a half.
Tempers boiled over at Bethpage Black on Saturday as Europe continued their Ryder Cup domination, with Scottie Scheffler‘s caddie Ted Scott getting involved in the action.
The behavior of the US Ryder Cup fans turned nasty midway through day two at Bethpage.
However, while the European players went from strength to strength, the US team crumbled under the pressure.
Scheffler has endured a miserable week at the Ryder Cup and he looked completely lost out on the golf course.
The clash between the players and caddies between the 15th green and the 16th tee kind of summed up the Americans’ week.
It was completely needless and just sapped much-needed energy from DeChambeau and Scheffler, even though the latter wasn’t actually involved in the spat!
Justin Rose comment on Scottie Scheffler after clashing with Bryson DeChambeau and Ted Scott
Rose and Fleetwood got their point against DeChambeau and Scheffler in the end.
But what golf fans really want to know is what caused the ruckus between the European and American players late on in their match.
The 2013 US Open champion was asked by reporters what actually happened on the 15th green and then during the walk up to the 16th tee.
Rose said: “It was a shame the match got to that point. It was a really, really great match. I was waiting to putt, the boys were working on their read and going through their calculations and bits and pieces.
“I waited a few seconds and then I felt like they came up again and I was like it’s my putt right? Maybe I didn’t say it as politely as I could in the moment but by no means was there any disrespect or anything like that but it was taken the wrong way.
“I don’t think we should dwell on that. I said to the boys if you want me to say excuse me please then it was my bad, but it was an amazing match.
“We got off to a great start, the quality of golf was exceptional, Tommy played incredibly round the turn and in the middle of the back nine and it was an epic match to be a part of.“
Rose was then asked whether the hatchet has been buried now.
The Englishman responded by saying: “I hope so. It should be. There was no intent behind it whatsoever. Especially Scottie I admire him more than anyone else on Tour the way he goes about his business and his life and obviously huge respect all around. It was something that was taken in a way that wasn’t intended. I was trying to control my environment and we are all competitors. I think it’s all within the framework of what we have got to do here. But happy days!“
What Tommy Fleetwood said about controversial Ryder Cup incident
Fleetwood was asked about the fisticuffs, so to speak, immediately after Rose delivered his verdict on the incident.
He said: “It’s part of it, right? It’s one moment out of two days of a lot of golf and a lot of great golf.“
The 34-year-old Englishman then took the time to praise his compatriot Rose.
Fleetwood said: “Justin might have complimented me a little bit but he played on his own out there today. Whatever happens. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. But for us I think I really enjoyed being part of that match even though I didn’t contribute that much, just being by Justin’s side was amazing. Every single point is huge and so far we have some blue and want to keep things going.“
Rose and Fleetwood formed a magnificent partnership at the Ryder Cup this week.
Perhaps the best example of their quality was how they both composed themselves to pipe their drives down the middle of the 16th fairway immediately after the clash with the American players and their caddies.
Rose and Fleetwood did nothing wrong on day two of the Ryder Cup and DeChambeau and co will surely realize that in the cold light of day.
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