Well-known faces of the golf scene did not remain deaf to the events at the last Ryder Cup. Although most hoped that this year's edition would bring excitement and a slightly calmer atmosphere, it turned out that we had the opposite effect. Namely, golf fans in the USA were hostile at first and used every moment to provoke the European players.
In the end, experts, analysts, sports legends and important figures of the golf scene said that the behavior of the Americans crossed all boundaries.
Fred Ridley, president of Augusta National, commented on the events at the latest edition.
Rory McIlroy was the golfer most targeted by fans, and Ridley shared his views that the game should be held to a higher standard. Ridley, as a man with experience, is not satisfied with these developments in the world of golf, but he is aware that something will have to change.
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"I don't think anyone was particularly happy with what happened this year," he said, as quoted by Golf Magic.
"It reminds us, as custodians of the game, the responsibility we have to perpetuate [golf's] underlying values."
Rory's statement
Rory McIlroy, speaking to the media, mostly shared positive emotions about the last edition, but in the end he believes that this game should be based on certain norms and values, and this was not the case at the last edition in the USA.
The Northern Irish golfer, on the other hand, is used to this kind of thing, but he used it as a motivation, helping his team to make an incredible success. The 35-year-old carries mostly positive emotions with Bethpage Black, aware of the success his team has made.
"Golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week," he said.
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"Golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette.
It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people.
Sometimes this week we didn't see that. So no, this should not be acceptable in the Ryder Cup.
We will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that what happened here this week is not acceptable."
