Europe and the United States will battle it out within the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup in Rome this week, with the Americans bidding for his or her first away victory in 30 years.
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Below, a take a look at 5 of probably the most controversial moments from earlier Ryder Cups:
1989: Seve and Azinger
Paul Azinger and Seve Ballesteros went head-to-head in a tense lead-out singles match at The Belfry. The European star requested to have a broken ball changed however Azinger efficiently objected. Ballesteros hit again by later asking whether or not Azinger had correctly dropped his ball after hitting it right into a water hazard on the 18th gap. Azinger held on to win the match 1-up, however Europe retained the trophy following a 14-14 tie.
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1991: ‘War on the Shore’
The tone for the 1991 matches was set when among the Americans arrived on the primary day carrying camouflage caps in a nod to the primary Gulf War which completed earlier that yr. The USA group had been repeatedly accused of gamesmanship by Europe because the hosts gained 14.5-13.5 at Kiawah Island. Azinger and Ballesteros once more clashed over accusations the American and his companion Chip Beck had modified balls. Later within the week, Raymond Floyd hit out at Ballesteros, claiming he was intentionally coughing throughout his swing. The US had been additionally broadly criticised for saying Steve Pate couldn’t characteristic within the Sunday singles as a result of harm, regardless of having performed the day gone by, incomes an automated half level from his scheduled match in opposition to David Gilford.
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1999: ‘Battle of Brookline’
Another heated encounter was preceded by American Payne Stewart saying “on paper, they (Europe) should be caddying for us”. Colin Montgomerie mentioned his father needed to go away the course as a result of abuse from the house followers, whereas Europe’s Mark James alleged a spectator spat at his spouse. The USA did finally edge to a different one-point victory after trailing 10-6 heading into the singles, however there was enormous controversy within the deciding match between Justin Leonard and Jose Maria Olazabal. Leonard holed a 40-foot putt on the seventeenth gap, sparking wild celebrations as American gamers, members of the family and cameramen ran onto the inexperienced. Olazabal nonetheless had a putt of his personal to maintain the Ryder Cup alive however missed, with Europe left fuming over the USA’s obvious lack of etiquette.
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2014: Mickelson criticises Watson
In the post-tournament press convention following the USA’s defeat at Gleneagles, Phil Mickelson mentioned the Americans had “strayed from a winning formula” in feedback broadly thought-about as a thinly-veiled assault on captain Tom Watson who was sitting a number of seats down on the identical desk. Watson refused to reply in variety on the time, however the next yr he accused Mickelson of “sour grapes”. Mickelson had been ignored of each periods on the Saturday.
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2018: Reed v Spieth
Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth fashioned a implausible partnership for the United States on the 2014 and 2016 Ryder Cups, profitable 5 factors from seven matches and solely shedding as soon as. But they had been surprisingly not paired collectively for the 2018 version in France by captain Jim Furyk, with the US happening to endure a heavy defeat. Reed’s spouse claimed on Twitter that he had by no means requested to not play with Spieth. Following the event, Reed informed the New York Times that the explanation the duo had been break up up was due to “Jordan not wanting to play with me”. Despite a stellar Ryder Cup document, Reed had been ignored of each afternoon periods on the Friday and Saturday following morning losses alongside Tiger Woods. He was one in all solely 4 Americans to win within the singles. “I don’t think it’s smart to sit me twice,” he mentioned. Reed has not performed within the competitors since.
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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