Lee Westood happy to silence American fans

The boos that rained down on the back nine at Valhalla were like music to Americans’ ears, but Lee Westwood enjoyed the silence at 18 after Europe halved the match to end Friday’s play.

The U.S. duo of JB Holmes and Boo Weekley, who drew resounding, affectionate ‘boos’ after his good shots, looked poised to seal a miserable day for Europe in the final fourball match as they went to the 18th with a one-hole lead.

Holmes and Weekley, however, both put their tee shots in the water, while Westwood and partner Soren Hansen both reached the par-five green in two and salvaged half a point to bring holders Europe within 5- to 2- of the United States.

“The crowd has been pretty noisy all day long, and on that last green they were pretty quiet,” said Westwood. “Hopefully that’s set a trend for tomorrow.”

The Americans trailed by two through the eighth before winning the next two make it all square. At the 12th, Weekley made a spectacular birdie to put the U.S. pair ahead.

After drawing a ball from the left rough around a tree and into the back fringe of the green, Weekley sank a 40-foot downhill putt for birdie.

The crowd, egged on by the arm-waving Weekley, erupted in a chorus of ‘boos’ that bothered Westwood, who was waiting to attempt his birdie putt.

“You walk a fine line when you start doing that sort of thing—using the crowd to your advantage when you’re at home,” said the Briton, playing in his sixth Ryder Cup.

“I don’t mind when they’re raising their arms and whooping the crowd up. But when Boo holed it from off the back, I’ve still got a putt for a halve. There’s no need to do it between the shots.”

Ryder Cup rookie Weekley was also serenaded by boos after his birdie at the 10th and exhorted the crowds throughout the match, which drew huge galleries.

Weekley, who has often said he prefers hunting and fishing to competing on the golf course, was unapologetic about stirring up the fans, which included former NBA player Michael Jordan.

“I really don’t care if I did,” Weekley said. “They do the same over there, from what I’ve heard. so why not?

“I’m not there to make him mad or aggravate him but I want everybody here to enjoy what we got going on, and I want them to pull for us and holler. As long as they are quiet when they hit their shots it shouldn’t matter.”

Westwood said he used the noise as motivation.

“It just certainly gave me more of a burning desire to win some holes,” he said.