AFTER DEPLORABLE FAN BEHAVIOR AT RYDER CUP AND U.S. OPEN, ARE NEW YORK FANS A ‘STAIN” ON THE SPORT?
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YES
by BOB HARIG
There is no denying the passion of New York sports fans. It is intense, and at times endearing, and makes attending any kind of a team sport event a special occasion. And when those teams are rolling – think New York Knicks – the enthusiasm screams fandom.
Golf is another matter, as two recent events on Long Island have borne out. The behavior of spectators at the Ryder Cup played at Bethpage Black last September crossed all lines of decorum. From vulgar insults, including the harassing of Rory McIlroy’s wife, Erica (an American) to excessive, incessant poor form, it got so bad the PGA of America was prompted, late, to issue an apology. While it wasn’t that bad last week at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, it still reached a level of absurdity during the final round, when Wyndham Clark was the subject of unfortunate verbal abuse.
Perhaps the area ought to take a break from major golf events until it can get its act together.
While it is always unfair to so broadly label one particular area, especially when it’s mostly a few bad actors causing the problems, these recent events do make you wonder if enough is enough. That was a crassness on display that saw New York turn from lovable to loathsome. Certainly in the case of the Ryder Cup, there was ample warning that bad behavior could be a talking point. Those in charge acted too feebly, too late, to enact any kind of discouragement.
While Clark might be a perfect golf villain these days, emitting a sometimes cringy vibe, that in no way excuses the kind of verbal onslaught he faced on his way to a second U.S. Open victory.
There’s nothing wrong with cheering for a close outcome, and it’s understandable that some in attendance were rooting for a Scottie Scheffler career Grand Slam. Perhaps Sam Burns, never a huge crowd favorite before, suddenly had a big cheering section. All good.
But it went far beyond that. Clark heard that taunts. He heard the jeers. “Don’t choke, Wyndham!” was a familiar one. So was “Anyone but Clark!” Bad shots were cheered and his good ones produced barely a ripple. “Get in the bunker,” was more the norm. Several spectators were ejected, which seems a prudent, although underutilized, response.
It was uncomfortable and unfortunate.
“Man, they definitely didn’t want me to win,” Clark said. “It’s pretty rare in an Open Championship or a major to have fans kind of boo against your shots or cheer for bad shots. That was tough. . . but I’m proud of myself that I battled through. I mean, things really could have gotten away from me. I stood tough. I would have liked to have won by more, but as long as you win, it doesn’t matter.”
Clark’s locker room outburst at Oakmont a year ago has been well-chronicled. So has the club-throwing incident at the 2025 PGA. He was reprimanded for both and paid a heavy price in the court of public opinion. Nobody is trying to make him out to be a sympathetic figure, here.
But nor does that excuse acting like a fool toward him when he’s trying to win a golf tournament.
“The crowd was tough today,” said Scheffler, who was in the final pairing with Clark. “New Yorkers, they are tough people. There was a good turnout from the fans. You like seeing the fans cheer for you. I think sometimes it can get a little too much when balls are kind of going off greens and you start hearing cheers. That felt a bit much to me.”
We’ve had a bit too much of New York when it comes to golf. Perhaps an example needs to be made for boorish golf fans everywhere.
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NO
by ANN LIGUORI
Putting the blame solely on Long Islanders for unruly behavior at Bethpage and Shinnecock is irresponsible & unfair.
Although I’m originally from Ohio, I’ve lived in Manhattan and on the East End of Long Island for many years and proudly consider New York home.
I know the Long Island and New York golf community. Many have called into my ‘Hey Liguori, What’s the Story’ and ‘Talking Golf with Ann Liguori’ shows on WFAN-NY for the last 40 years. I am a proud Board Member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. And I can tell you that the overwhelming majority of golf fans from New York are knowledgeable, respectful, and deeply appreciative of the game. They deserve better than having their reputation tarnished by a tiny minority seeking attention.
When New Yorkers took the heat after the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last year because of loudmouths and rude behavior from a small minority of spectators, I was appalled, not only at their unacceptable behavior, but I was also angry that the actions of a small minority dominated headlines, overshadowed an international event that dedicated people worked tirelessly to stage, and made New York look bad. It wasn’t fair then, and it’s not fair now to paint a region’s golf fans with the same broad brush.
Then came the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where rude and abusive behavior directed at Wyndham Clark dominated headlines. Once again, New Yorkers, and particularly Long Islanders, found themselves taking the blame for a small minority of unruly spectators.
And to suggest that major championships should be taken away from New York is even more unfair and ludicrous.
The problem isn’t New York; it’s a broader societal issue affecting sports across the country. Too many spectators are crossing the line in search of attention. Sports betting, alcohol consumption, and viral social media moments may be contributing factors. Rather than blaming one state or region, golf’s governing bodies and tournament organizers should ensure this behavior is not tolerated.
But to label Long Island golf fans as “a stain on golf,” as Eamon Lynch did on Golf Channel, is a ridiculous and irresponsible conclusion. Before making such an accusation, you would have to establish that the people responsible were from Long Island, or even New York. Major championships attract spectators from across the country and around the world. To assume those behaving badly are local fans is irresponsible without having proof.
I’ve covered every Ryder Cup since 1999 at Brookline and witnessed unruly behavior in the United States and Europe. Every venue, unfortunately, attracts spectators who cross the line.
The atmosphere at the WM Phoenix Open, on the 16th hole, does not help the issue. As festive as that environment is, it encourages an excessive rowdy environment that blurs the line between fun and inappropriate conduct.
Golf’s governing bodies and tournament organizers need to meet regularly to develop and implement stronger crowd-management policies.
One of many solutions would be to increase security, tenfold. Unfortunately, that’s the reality today. Security personnel should be highly visible on every hole, with the authority to remove immediately anyone who crosses the line.
I’m confident the many bright minds who lead this great game can develop solutions to eradicate this ‘stain’ on golf.
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ANN LIGUORI is an internationally renown sports radio and television personality, talk show host, journalist, author, golf reporter and trailblazer for women in sports media. She was the first woman to host a call-in sports show on WFAN-NY, where she hosted ‘Hey Liguori, What’s the Story,’ for 25 straight years and continues to host ‘Talking Golf with Ann Liguori’ now available on the Audacy app, Apple and Spotify. Ann was also an original host with her own series on The Golf Channel. She has covered 28 Masters, U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, the Olympics, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Super Bowls, Major League Baseball, the NFL, and has interviewed hundreds of top names in sports, Hollywood, music and business for her radio shows and her Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori cable show, which aired weekly for 17 years, in which she owns and continues to license the content. She is President of Ann Liguori Productions and the Founder of the Ann Liguori Foundation. She is the author of “Life on the Green: Lessons and Wisdom from Legends of Golf” and “A Passion for Golf, Celebrity Musings about the Game.” Listen to the award-winning ‘Talking Golf with Ann Liguori’ show on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-golf-with-ann-liguori/id1886736071
BOB HARIG is one of the most respected and knowledgeable golf writers in the business. His resume includes stints at Sports Illustrated and SIRIUS XM PGA Tour radio. He contributes to a golf newsletter on Substack called the Daily Drive. https://www.the-daily-drive.com/ Bob has covered more than 140 major championships — including every one of Tiger’s 15 major wins as well as all of Phil Mickelson’s and Rory McIlroy’s six each — and events on every golfing continent. He’s written three books on golf, including his most recent “Tiger v. Jack: Golf’s Great Debate.” https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-v-Jack-Golfs-Debate-ebook/dp/B0FLZ4MNRW?ref_=ast_author_mpb
(EDITOR NOTE – Two of golf media’s biggest names – Ann Liguori and Bob Harig – will offer dueling opinions on golf’s hottest topics in future editions of Pro Golf Weekly www.progolfweekly.com and New England dot Golf www.newengland.golf.)
