[Carlyle Rood]

Almost all the fans behaved impeccably.  That was my observation as someone who attended the U.S. Open throughout the entire week.  There were some isolated examples of poor behavior by a handful of fans; but, they were exactly that--isolated.

In case some of you haven't figured out, I'm not really suggesting that New York fans are the most knowledgable fans in golf.  I presumed my original post illustrated that.  But generally speaking, I found the fans to be friendly and genuinely interested in golf--if not necessarily knowledgable or well-versed in the customs of the game.

There was some playful bantering with players throughout the tournament; but, it was mostly good-natured.  It seemed that the intent of most comments made to players was to make them chuckle or lighten the mood--certainly not to affect their game detrimentally.  Occasionally, fans were too enthusiastic rooting for Mickelson.  But, again, I don't think the intent was to throw Goosen off his game.  It was tacky at times; but, I accepted that there wasn't any malice behind it.  Goosen seemed to accept that, as well.

Characterizing the fans at Shinnecock as unruly or rude is fundamentally unfair and entirely inaccurate.  That would be akin to characterizing British fans as naked because of a few streakers!  We're talking about a handful of lunatics in each case.  It certainly doesn't justify condemning everyone.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Carlyle,

You're living in denial.

Do you remember Greg Norman and his problems with the fans ?

Do you remember others having problems ?

You must have missed Sunday's telecast, because it was anything but impeccable behavior.

Loud cat calls, cheering one player, booing another, and assorted bad behavior was not universal, but it was systemic.

If the sponsors don't crush this trend now, just wait, and you'll see fan intervention with play within the next five years.

[Steve Wilson]

Loud cat calls, cheering one player, booing another, and assorted bad behavior was not universal, but it was systemic.

If the sponsors don't crush this trend now, just wait, and you'll see fan intervention with play within the next five years.

I have to admit I didn't hear the cat calls and booing, perhaps because I had the sound turned down, but I do agree with the assertion that we will see fan intervention with plan in five years or a lot less.  There have already been instances of loud shouts perfectly timed to interrupt a player's downswing.  I recall it happening to Tiger twice.  To do that requires a certain appreciation of golf, to time it so that the swing can't be stopped but will be affected.  

Is it going over the top to speculate how long it will be before some one throws something at a player.  

[Carlyle Rood]

You're living in denial.

Do you remember Greg Norman and his problems with the fans ?

Greg Norman did not participate in this year's U.S. Open.

You must have missed Sunday's telecast, because it was anything but impeccable behavior.

Loud cat calls, cheering one player, booing another, and assorted bad behavior was not universal, but it was systemic.

I did miss the telecast.  As I mentioned previously, I was present at this year's championship.  It was my observation that the majority of fans behaved impeccably throughout the entire week.  They did.

A few patrons behaved irresponsibly.  I did not hear cat calls, nor did I hear booing.  I heard cheering throughout.  The behavior was not systematic.

I'm not in denial.  I am reporting the events as they happened from my own personal observation.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Carlyle,

Your observations were limited to your immediate location.

The TV cameras captured multiple locations and the poor behavior of the fans.

I'm aware of Greg Norman's absence from this year's field, but I haven't forgotten how the fans treated him at Shinnecock in a previous Open when he was in contention.

The behavior of the galleries is substantially worse then it was 5, 10, 20 and 40 years ago, and reflective of a systemic detioration in civility and a lack of respect and appreciation of the contestants and the game.

You're either very young, or out of touch with reality if you think otherwise, and I'm not trying to take you to task.

[JSlonis]

Pat,

I fully agree.  I was so sick off hearing people yell just to hear themselves yell.

It was indeed boorish behavior, and a trend that I'm afraid seems to be continuing.

[Mike Hendren]

Carlyle,

The 19th hole pictured in your post #18 appears to be neither firm nor fast.  Of course what can one really tell from a photograph?  It it my understanding that one must actually play the hole to determine is merits - not that there's anything wrong with that

Mike

[Brian Phillips]

Goosen and Byrne certainly needed ice in the veins as they walked a gauntlet of hostile fans on a Shinnecock course that would have tried the patience of a saint.

While Phil Mickelson is a thorough gentleman, more than a few among the tens of thousands of New Yorkers noisily urging him on last Sunday, were patently unfamiliar with the etiquette of golf.

It's a measure of the general disappointment at their hero's two-stroke defeat that the huge grandstand at the 18th green was already empty when Goosen was presented with the US Open trophy for the second time in three years.

"Obviously the fans were with him," Byrne confirmed. "There was some pretty bad etiquette, you might say, from the crowd. Appalling.

"On Saturday I heard some guy yell out 'it's yours to lose, Goose'. Stuff like that," said the man from Howth, adding that fans were wasting their breath if they thought they might put the South African off his stride.

"I think Ernie (Els) reacted on the 14th hole to some guy, though I don't know what he said to him. Yet that's what you expect over here and you face it with resignation. What can you do. They don't like to be beaten."

Like his caddie, Goosen dismissed the effect of the roaring galleries. "In a way, I think it was probably a bit easier playing with Ernie in the final round and not with Phil. I think if I had played with him, there'd have been a lot more going on around us.

Carlyle,

You are in denial.  Read what the caddy said.

Where were you by the way when the back nine was being played on Sunday.  Did you follow the last pairing?

Brian

[frank_D]

In case some of you haven't figured out, I'm not really suggesting that New York fans are the most knowledgable fans in golf.  

brother carlyle

i also attended the open and found a portion of spectators displaying idiotic behavior as well - but how do you know a persons' origin ?

i attended the olympic torch ceremony in times square as well and guess what ? also a portion of idiotic behavior noted

being an ex-NYer i was raised through my formative years on believing NY was the center of the universe and had the best of everything - including the best idiots

it's all part of the NY scene - it always was and it always will be - it's simply what makes NY what it is - and visitors are welcome to participate to the fullest extent - idiots and all

[Kelly Blake Moran]

The pros and one of their caddies exhibited poor behavior as well.  As I relayed in another thread two players destroyed an NBC mike and a water cooler after playing the 7th on Sunday.  Then there is King Whiney, Tiger, and his punk caddy.  I witnessed first hand his caddy go after a spectator in Buenos Aires because the guy had a camera, which I believe was allowed at that tournament.  He was extremely rude, and nasty in his comments.  As my dad would say that punk needs his ass kicked up between his shoulders.  Both these punks have faced this issue a lot in their careers which are on a downward spiral, so they should be mature enough to know how to handle it, either in a more polite but forceful manner, or by finding a marshal.  So you hero worshippers who always blame the public need to look at your golfing hero's behavior and demand more out of them.  Even Davis Love squealing like a little girl is an example of poor behavior by the gods of golf.  Having just read Vasquez's book on Hogan it has reaffirmed my faith in the possibilities that a super star can possess humble, and gracious qualities.  The book is entertaining even though a northeast intellectual, Pat Mucci panned it, but northeast intellectuals have always looked down on people from the south.

[ForkaB]

Kelly

You are too polite to state the obvious:  "northeast intellectuals" is (are?) an oxymoron.

[Brian Phillips]

I'd love to see Steve Williams even try to take a camera off a Scottish fan with a few whiskys in him.  I think he would get a Glaswegian Kiss pretty quick...

Brian

[Patrick_Mucci]

Kelly Blake Moran,

I didn't pan it, I said that I found it boring.

I kept waiting for something to happen but it never materialized.

The only people I've ever looked down upon are those that are shorter then me.

[Kelly Blake Moran]

Good one Brian.

Well Pat that includes about 90% of the population!  Maybe the best part of the book is that someone with such access to Hogan didn't reveal anything stunning.  It pretty much is what we have heard over the years.  I liked his book better than Sampsons which I thought tried to be heavy but was poorly written, and wrong on some facts.

The most disturbing part of the Vasquez book was Faldo's fawning all over Hogan.  Begging people to get Hogan out on the range to watch him hit balls, then begging Hogan to write a forward to his book, that was pretty shocking and distasteful.  But just the small things about Hogan's thinking were not earth shattering, however there is a lot to hang your hat on, and I do not think many people pay much heed to what he believed in and practiced.  That these little bits of wisdom are on paper is in itself a worthy accomplishment.

[Carlyle Rood]

Having just read Vasquez's book on Hogan it has reaffirmed my faith in the possibilities that a super star can possess humble, and gracious qualities.  The book is entertaining even though a northeast intellectual, Pat Mucci panned it, but northeast intellectuals have always looked down on people from the south.

It is an excellent book.

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