Hopes for a fair competitive Ryder Cup

The buzz approaching the 2001 Ryder Cup centered not on the teams, nor even the venue. Rather, the golf community obsessed about decorum.

Already one of sports' most contentious events, the Ryder Cup in 1999 had escalated some say degenerated into an intensely personal war of words among players, fans and media. The fallout from the United States' epic comeback against Europe, accomplished in the shadows of revolutionary Boston no less, lingered throughout the two years between competitions.

Then, 16 days before the opening ceremony, came Sept. 11, changing the world and the Ryder Cup. Delayed one year and set to begin Friday outside of Birmingham, England, the 34th Cup matches promise to be solemn and respectful.

To a point. The question is: After an opening ceremony that acknowledges the victims of Sept. 11, will the players and galleries turn soft, robbing the event of its unique, full-throated emotions?

"Oh, God no," said European captain Sam Torrance, a veteran of eight Cup matches. "This is going to be very competitive, trust me. The Ryder Cup is the Ryder Cup. It's forever. When you're representing your country, and you're out there on the first tee, it's a fantastic feeling. I think that will override everything."

"I think leading up to the matches we're going to remember why we're a year late," said U.S. captain Curtis Strange, who competed in five Cup matches. "We should never forget why we're playing this year. But I've always said once the tee goes in the ground Friday morning, I think you're going to have a good, solid match, and I think you'll see a partisan crowd, which is the way it should be, and I don't think you'll see much change at all.

"Emotion is why everybody likes to watch this event so much. We play as robots every day of our lives out here. We think we play better, and we do, when we hold our emotions inside. In the Ryder Cup, it's OK to let your emotions run freely. I think it can be detrimental to you, but it's still the way you play the game in the Ryder Cup. Because of that, the fans like it, the TV audience likes it, everyone in this room enjoys it because of that."

Those emotions flowed like never before in 1999. Pro-American galleries at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., heckled European players Colin Montgomerie in particular and for good measure tossed barbs at the Europeans' families.

Yet entering Sunday's 12 singles matches, Europe held a 10-6 lead. Only an unprecedented rally would spare the Americans a third consecutive Cup defeat.

U.S. captain Ben Crenshaw set the stage for an unforgettable finale when in the sternest of tones he lectured the media, "I have a good feeling about this team."

Sure enough, the U.S. swept the first seven singles to take a 13-10 lead. But Europe countered, and the decisive match fell to Justin Leonard and Jose Maria Olazabal. Four down with seven holes remaining, Leonard drew all square approaching the 17th hole.

Both players reached the par-4 in regulation, Leonard within 45 feet, Olazabal 25. When Leonard's putt dropped, virtually assuring the U.S. a half-point and overall victory, American players, wives and caddies led by 1996 British Open champion Tom Lehman stormed the green in celebration, trampling the line of Olazabal's putt.

After a lengthy delay, Olazabal missed. The U.S. reclaimed the Ryder Cup 14=-13=.

Already peeved by the hostile fans, European players and press erupted. The breach of etiquette at 17, they said, was disgraceful.

"It's about the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," Torrance said at the time. "This is not sour grapes. Tom Lehman calls himself a man of God. His behavior today has been disgusting."

" I think we all understand that the Ryder Cup might have been going a little too far, over the edge," Tiger Woods said. "It's not a blood bath. We are out there competing and having fun. What happened in `99, I think the fans went over the top, the players went over the top, and the media went over the top and we all learned from that.

"It's not going to be the same. It's not going to be over the top. We all understand it's not life and death. It's terrible to say, but 9-11 reminded us all of that, and it's sad to say that it takes something like that to remind us that it is just a sport."

The full impact of 9-11 hit Strange two weeks later, at the Texas Open during a ceremony honoring the terrorists' victims. The event, staged at a San Antonio theme park, featured the Air Force Band of the West, a local church choir and country singers Larry Gatlin and Lee Greenwood. More than 5,000 flag-waving spectators and hundreds of military personnel attended.

Strange and Ryder Cup competitors Hal Sutton, David Toms and Jesper Parnevik, a European team member from Sweden, spoke.

"I've lived over here for 10 years," Parnevik told the crowd. "My kids were born over here. I've never felt more American than I have these past two weeks."

Greenwood, just returned from Ground Zero, then sang The Lord's Prayer and God Bless America.

"I'm telling you, it was the most emotional thing I've ever been involved in," Strange said. "Hal lost it, and Jesper was great."

The pro-U.S. sentiment remains.

"I've represented my country in amateur golf, but obviously there's stronger American feelings now than there has been in a long time," Ryder Cup rookie Scott Verplank said. The Cup "should return to a sporting event instead of a grudge match with nasty attitudes.

"It's like an amateur tournament. You're not playing for money. You're playing for something more important. You're playing for pride, and if you can't get excited about that, you probably shouldn't be playing. It's about respect, loyalty and knowing how to act. I hope it turns back into a gentleman's match, as it was originally intended."

Civility was a given when the U.S. dominated the Ryder Cup. But since 1985, Europe owns a 5-3-1 edge. Since 1987, the aggregate score of the matches is 98-all, with the most one-sided score 15-13.

Goodbye civility, hello intensity. And we're not just talking about 1999.

The 1991 matches at Kiawah Island, S.C., were touted as "The War by the Shore," and some U.S. players arrived in fatigues. In 1989, Seve Ballesteros objected vehemently to a drop officials allowed Paul Azinger on the 18th hole.

"I think September 11 put everything into perspective," Torrance said. "I think we'll all be well-behaved. I don't think there's going to be as much antagonism."

Even from the notoriously hostile British galleries, who undoubtedly have not forgotten 1999?

"I'm sure they'll remind us of it when we get to The Belfry," the U.S.'s Jim Furyk said. "But fans, players, everyone will remember the bad times of last year. Although the attacks happened in the U.S., they affected the entire world."

Toms, another Ryder Cup rookie, would welcome a raucous greeting.

"I think once the matches get going you'll see the same fiery competition you've seen in the past," Toms said. "All the stories you hear from other players, you want to be a part of that, you want to experience that."

Parnevik has experienced both sides, losing at Brookline in `99, winning at Valderrama (Spain) in `97. He also experienced 9-11. He was a half-mile from the World Trade Center when the first plane struck and spent seven hours in Central Park with other shellshocked people.

"I think the attitude for both players and fans will be different," Parnevik said. "I think it's going to go back to the way it was, the philosophy from the beginning, a match between Europe and the United States, not like life and death, a hate situation.

"But by no means do I want the crowds to be tame. I want the crowds to be rowdy, patriotic and loud. I like it when it's wild, crazy and chaotic. At the same time, let's be polite. It was a case of attacking individuals that went over the line."