Azinger urges home support to cheer European mistakes

Published on Friday 19 September 2008 22:37

PAUL Azinger, America's captain, has assured the home spectators attending the 37th staging of the Ryder Cup at Valhalla that it's acceptable to cheer when the Europeans miss putts.

• Watch a slideshow of pictures from day one of the Ryder Cup

Azinger was speaking at the 'pep rally' held in Louisville city centre on Thursday evening. The US captain, who took all 12 of his players to the downtown function, told the excited fans: "Have you got a ticket, have you got a ticket? You can cheer when they miss putts, you can cheer when they miss putts."

Although applauding the opposition's mistakes has become ever more common at the Ryder Cup, it's still very much a breach of golfing etiquette which should not be endorsed by the participants on either side.

When asked about the comment, Azinger admitted he'd made the remark but claimed all he was trying to do was establish a level playing field. According to the American captain, the nasty Euros always cheer when the US miss putts while good-natured Americans prefer to clap politely.

Azinger, who has obviously never watched a DVD of Brookline, said: "Essentially, you know, when we go over there, they cheer when we miss. I don't think that the American fans are really into what the Ryder Cup is all about in the fact that, you know, there is that other element. And it wasn't meant to be malicious and I'm really proud that the fans have been absolutely perfectly behaved this morning.

"If we lose a hole or we miss a putt, they cheer. I don't think the American fans get that part. Golf is, everybody oohs and aahs, but the European fans, they get it. The American fans, they don't, and they are not used to that. I was just making sure that if they understood that if we win a hole, they can cheer, and even if somebody misses a putt for us to win a hole. So that's really all that was. And again, I'll reiterate, I think you'll find that so far, the great fans of Kentucky have not done anything to let us down or embarrass us."

The US captain's off-the-cuff remark from a stage in front of the people he calls his "13th man" was in stark contrast with his official message in the spectator guide. In a joint statement with Nick Faldo, Azinger said: "The sportsmanship of the spectators plays a vital role in the continuing spirit and success of the Ryder Cup.

"In order to preserve this great tradition, there should be no excessive partisanship by the gallery. While all good shot-making should be applauded, the prospective misfortunes of an opposing player should never be celebrated. Nor should comments of any kind be made while a player prepares to make his shot.

"Since its inception in 1927, the Ryder Cup has embodied golf's high ideals of sportsmanship, honesty and integrity. Throughout the years, players have represented their countries and the game of golf with pride and honour. On behalf of all the players, your co-operation in making this Ryder Cup the most memorable in history is greatly appreciated."

Earlier in the week, Azinger spoke passionately about getting local support on board for America and didn't rule out incidents of crowd misbehaviour at an event where alcohol is on sale. "All the while, the message is certainly always going to be to maintain a certain level of sportsmanship," said the American. "We don't want anybody out of hand. Of course there will be alcohol served and, of course, there may be some minor cases, but we are engaging the crowd."

Crowd behaviour during the morning foursomes, as it transpired, was good and the session was completed without incident. "Very good, very noisy, very respectable," reported Padraig Harrington.

While the crowd's support was supposed to be an advantage to the hosts, American Kenny Perry admitted he found the adulation he received from the galleries a tad overwhelming and even unnerving.

"I told Jimmy (Furyk) 'you're going to have to play the first couple of holes and let me settle down a little bit'," he said. "I never felt that way in my whole life. I had all the crowd chanting my name. I'm guessing the Euros are tired of hearing it but it was great."

There was no shortage of European support among the 40,000 crowd, however, and Paul Casey, the Englishman, felt compelled to hail the backing his side received from their vocal supporters.

"We had some great fans on the first tee. They were hysterical," he said. "I saw five leprechauns, one matador and Monty in a kilt."

The whole occasion certainly caught the imagination of American debutant Hunter Mahan. Revelling in the atmosphere created by those in attendance, he hailed it the "best day of my life, man."

Read Mike Aitken's latest blog from Valhalla