A golf legend criticized American golf fans at the US Open for their chants against Rory McIlroy on the final hole of Pinehurst No. 2 last weekend.
After McIlroy missed a short putt on the final hole (ultimately ruining his chance at a major title), the crowd began chanting “USA” as he stood to take his next shot.
That sparked a backlash from across the pond, including three-time US Open runner-up Colin Montgomerie.
The Scotsman said TalkSport: ‘American fans who attend a golf tournament are not usually golfers. You have the Open, or a Scottish or Irish event, and it’s usually the golfers who attend those events. They appreciate and understand the etiquette of the game.
‘In the United States, it is not. Many baseball and football fans have been drinking all day and love to shout the word ‘USA’.
Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie criticized American golf fans for their chanting at the US Open
After Rory McIlroy missed his par putt on the 18th hole, fans began chanting ‘USA’ at Pinehurst.
‘It’s not really golf. It’s not game etiquette. It’s very anti-rest of the world. America feels it is the best and the loudest. “They are definitely the loudest.”
That volume even extended to the final group, where eventual winner Bryson DeChambeau was seen telling the crowd to be quiet as his playing partner Matthieu Pavon marked his ball.
In his playing days, Montgomerie earned a reputation for his attempts to silence hecklers, particularly in the United States, an environment he once called “hellish.”
That’s not likely to stop in 2025, when the Ryder Cup returns to Bethpage Black in New York.
Montogomerie added: ‘I had that throughout my career. When you become a threat like I became, and Rory is, and (Sir Nick) Faldo can attest to that: he never won the US Open and there was probably a crowd element to that too.
“It is very difficult to play on a course of that difficulty, you have the occasional stroke of bad luck and they sing the word ‘USA’ at you. in your ear for five hours, it’s hard work.
“I always felt that winning in the United States was more difficult than anywhere else because of that.
‘Let’s save it for the Ryder Cup and congratulate and celebrate good golf, as opposed to what happens behind the scenes.
McIlroy’s mistake cost him another chance to capture an elusive fifth major championship.
“I think Ludvig Aberg suffered on Saturday playing with Bryson, he hadn’t had that feeling before.
And I’m sure Pavón had that problem. Bryson was booing the crowd, of course, because that’s how he was going to win, with the crowd’s support behind him.
“But that doesn’t happen in Britain. “We celebrate good golf, whoever it is.”