LONDON - Losing Ryder Cup golf captain Mark James returned from the United States yesterday calling for a ban on alcohol at major events in a bid to curtail abuse aimed at players from the galleries.
James, the European captain, said the tone of crowd heckling reached a new low as
the United States staged a thrilling comeback to win 141/2-131/2 at Brookline, Massachusetts.
However, James admitted that it would be difficult to implement an alcohol ban at a corporate event like the Ryder Cup.
The British media focus yesterday was on the controversial American celebrations on the 17th green after Justin Leonard holed the 45-foot putt that capped the greatest comeback in Cup history.
But James preferred to dwell on the crowd behaviour, rating it worse than the notorious Kiawah Island Ryder Cup in the United States eight years ago.
"It's time to sit down and think about what we can do about verbal abuse on the golf course. We're not blaming the result on that," he said.
"You expect excitement. In Kiawah in 1991 it was War on the Shore' stuff. It was very partisan and there was a lot of cheering. That wasn't very nice but it reached a whole new level this week with personal insults.
"None of us think it has any place within the game. We want golf to be kept absolutely clean and we're going to have to think what to do about it."
Colin Montgomerie was a particular target for abuse, but while the European No 1 says he thrives on it, his father opted to leave the course rather than listen to the comments directed at his son.
James said it was up to all the players to get the tournament etiquette back on track at the 2001 Ryder Cup at the Belfry.
"It seems odd we keep having to do it in Europe," he said of the better relations between both teams at the Belfry in 1993.
"It seems [the European team are] doing all the work."
