It doesn’t take much to get Gary Player started – and when he was asked about the Ryder Cup, there was just no stopping him…
Gary Player has described the Ryder Cup as the “worst event in the world”.
Not just golf. The world.
Europe’s 15-13 victory over their American rivals at Bethpage was largely marred by a hostile environment that saw the visiting team subject to a torrent of verbal abuse. Rory McIlroy’s much-publicized personal life and Shane Lowry’s weight were two topics that the New York crowds latched onto in particular.
And Player, who attended the first day alongside President Donald Trump before returning to his home in Florida, said he was watching it “in a state of shock”.
In an overriding interview with the Palm Beach Post about turning 90 next month, the nine-time major champion did not hold back.
“I was disgusted,” he said. “To me, the Ryder Cup is a shambles. What would Ben Hogan have said? What would Byron Nelson have said? What would Arnold Palmer [have said]? If Arnold Palmer saw that today…”
Player – who, of course, was never eligible to play in the Ryder Cup – did find some positives, but the pleasantries didn’t last long.
“I love the fact that they say ‘USA! USA!’ I love how the [European fans] respond in their way. I think that’s exciting,” he explained. “But the Ryder Cup to me is the worst event in the world.”
He singled out an incident from the Saturday morning where comedian Heather McMahan, who was hired as the first tee MC, ended up quitting the role after joining in an expletive-laden chant aimed at McIlroy which was later downplayed by PGA president Don Rea.
Player continued: “To see them hire a lady to stand on the tee – if you want to call her a lady – and saying, ‘F you, Rory! F this European team!’ Are we crazy? And then the head of the [PGA of America] says, ‘What was so serious about it?’”
But McIlroy himself was not clear of Player’s sights. Europe’s talisman was heavily criticized for reacting to the crowd, including incidents where he repeatedly shouted “f*** you” at fans as well as telling one to “shut the f*** up”.
“Golf has never been that,” Player, who has 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, added. “Golf has been a gentleman’s sport. So, to see that, and to see the players using this ‘F’ word, I mean, the whole lot.”
“Is that what you want to go and see? I mean, can you imagine? I’ve got all these children. If I had to sit there and hear that, I don’t know what I’d do.”
And it’s left the 89-year-old worrying about the future of the sport.
“The next era could become a lot worse if we’re not careful,” he said, before concluding with a brief solution: “If their young players swear and misbehave, don’t put them on a team.”
