![]() In Rolex's outpost off of Whistling Straits' first green (this year, the brand returned as the official timekeeper of the Ryder Cup), I spoke to Jeff Price, Chief Commercial Officer of the PGA of America, about this year's event culminating a historic year for the game. ![]() Ryder Cup captain and Rolex testimonee hoists the Ryder Cup trophy. It was friendly competition at its finest, and just one way where golf's true essence prevailed over the tumultuous fan behavior of the past year. While Kaymer's hopes of a strong European showing didn't manifest, love of golf prevailed over love of continent beyond the ropes. You could see the European players and fans embrace it, too. So they're used to that culture, they're used to the loudness." Most of the European players, they have been playing in America anyways. They will be missed by the European players, but as long as it stays respectful, and the etiquette is being followed, there's no problem at all. "In a bit of a funny way, it would be even sweeter if you would win in America with, let's say the disadvantage of the European fans. Beyond the ropes, the chants of "U-S-A" were constant, but you didn't see notable scuffles between fans wearing red and those chanting "Ole, Ole Ole Ole." "You want to have the crowds being loud," Kaymer told me the week before the event. The energy at the 2020 Ryder Cup wound up being a perfect mix of passionate and respectful. Stuff like this happened in the MLB and pro soccer as well.) (NBA players weren't so lucky last summer, where fans, fresh out of being cooped up for a year and seemingly void of etiquette, threw popcorn and water bottles at players. Police did their best-only one guy got dangerously close to the golder-but that invisible wall was just barely propped up by the strength of golf etiquette. At the PGA Championship this summer, fans swarmed eventual champion Phil Mickelson as he approached the 18th green to seal his victory. But 2020 brought us a new level of loud fanship. Of all the tournaments pros play in, it's the one you'll hear the least amount of shushing from the course volunteers. The Ryder Cup gallery is historically and romantically unruly, a beautiful combination of the passion of live sports passion and the respect of a golf crowd. That message was apparent on the other side of the ropes at Whistling Straits this weekend. The Ryder Cup scoreboard during the first day of matches. It's just up to us as golfers and professional golfers, it's up to events like the Ryder Cup to keep them in the game, to keep the imagination going, to showcase it, to show what's possible when it comes to golf." He's 13 years of age, and he came home after his first day back in school, he says, 'Dad, everybody's talking to me about golf.' So now, whereas there might have been two or three kids in his class who play golf, nearly all the boys and girls play golf. "My own son, he just went back to school. One recent notable moment that represented golf's growth happened when Harrington's son came home one day from a day of classes. The more people that play it, the more people enjoy it, the more people embrace it, the better for us." "All life skills that you use in life, you need them on the golf course to play golf. ![]() "We believe golf is the greatest game ever in terms of what it teaches you on the golf course, the discipline you need, the etiquette you need, the patience you need," Harrington said over Zoom in September. I caught up with the two golf greats ahead of their bout with Team USA at Wisconsin's iconic Whistling Straits about what's been happening in the game, and how pros like them feel watching it catch fire with newcomers. ![]() Kamaiu Johnson Is Putting Golf On His Shoulders. ![]()
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