Tom Watson says he was ‘ashamed’ of US fans’ conduct at Ryder Cup | Ryder Cup 2025
Tom Watson, a legend of the American golf course, apologized to the European contingent of the Ryder Cup for the behavior of spectators with Bethpage Black while admitting that he was “ashamed” of what was played in the galleries. A dramatic European retention of the trophy, 15-13, was overshadowed by an abusive behavior towards visiting players and their families. Watson’s comments come after Rory McILroy confirmed that his wife, Erica, was struck by a beer launched by a fan.
“I would like to congratulate Europe for their victory,” said Watson on X. “Your team plays the first days. Most importantly, I would like to apologize for the coarse and mean behavior of our American crowd at Bethpage. As a former player, captain and American, I am ashamed of what happened.”
Watson, an eight -time major winner who played in five Ryder Cups and was captain of the American team in 2014, also reported his apologies directly to the European team.
His comments strongly contrast with the 2025 class. Collin Morikawa had asked fans to bring the “chaos” and the American captain, Keegan Bradley, stopped well condemn the situation for Bethpage despite the police and the dogs who line fairways. “I don’t think we should never accept this in golf course,” said McILroy, who met vehement abuses towards him and his wife.
Watson’s comment shows that it can take a while for the dust to settle on the 45th Ryder Cup. The celebrations of the European team, which ran a long time in the night, were naturally wild after a first victory on American soil since 2012.
Success under Luke Donald means that Europe now promotes captains for several Ryder Cups. Those behind the team consider it much easier to prepare for a staging outside the event with knowledge built from a Ryder Cup at home. His approach to the captain in Rome two years ago and New York was widely praised. It seems inevitable that it will be involved to a certain extent in the future. For the moment, he does not completely raise a third term.
Donald had taken advice from tennis players, including the triple champion of the US Open Ivan Lendl, on how to manage a crowd from New York. Lendl beat the favorite at home John McEnroe for the first of his victories in 1985. Donald thought that tennis and golf decorations, where spectators are invited to remain silent for shots, were the most comparable.
“The weeks we spend together are the ones we remember the most and those we cherish most because of the time we can spend with each other,” he said. “It’s a large part of my captain, to create an environment where these guys have the best weeks of their lives. We will always remember that. We are always going to descend into history.
“We are talking about all the people who preceded us who paved the way for us. Now, future generations will talk about this team and what they have done and how they were able to overcome one of the most difficult environments of all sport. ”
Justin Rose had been the most likely European captain for 2025 and Adare Manor in Ireland. However, Rose’s game performance here can give him a reason to think that he could compete again in two years. Francesco Molinari would enter into the context in this circumstance.
It has been largely supposed that Tiger Woods will succeed Bradley and direct the United States, but the absence of 15 times the Bethpage winner raises questions about this scenario.
