Luke Donald, Keegan Bradley expect vocal Bethpage Ryder Cup fans

In 2002, when the U.S. Open was played at Bethpage Black, a young Sergio Garcia found out just how antagonistic they can be. At that time in his career, Garcia had a habit of regripping the club several times before he hit a shot. Whether it was the full swing yips, or just indecision or nerves, we will never know. It was just part of his pre-shot routine.

The New York fans, never what you would call patient, started counting. Now, how was that going to help? It wasn’t. They were tormenting him, really. Some even counted in Spanish. The number of regrips got into the high teens and even the low 20s a few times. It was brutal to watch and brutal to listen to. They were relentless, like someone teasing a little brother or somebody picking a fight.

Into this kind of history, the PGA has placed one of its cherished events. The Ryder Cup. 

When the captains talk about fan behavior, each one has been in a foreign country playing Ryder Cup, and each knows better than anyone some of the things that come out of the mouths of fans.

At the One Year until The Ryder Cup press conference, a relatively new concept to start the hype for the upcoming matches, the captains -- Keegan Bradley for the U.S. and Luke Donald for the European Team -- commented on a variety of things, including fan behavior.

“We know, you go over to an away Ryder Cup, it's going to be difficult,” said Keegan Bradley, captain for the U.S. team.“This is a big event. We're all grownups and we know how tough it is to go play an outside -- an away Ryder Cup.”

Polite Translation: When we went to Rome and Paris, we got skunked, and they yelled bad stuff at us. Our fans are going to yell bad stuff back.

Luke Donald, the repeat captain for the European team added, in his distinguished English accent, “The Ryder Cup is special because it is spirited. Passions are high. Energy is high. You want to see that amongst the players.”

Polite Translation: Yeah, well, we didn’t like what we heard at Whistling Straits and Valhalla, either.

“You know, I have total faith in the fans of New York to cheer on their team, proudly and loudly,” Bradley said. “I don't want them to cross the line, to do anything that would affect the course of play. But it's going to be a tough atmosphere.”

Polite Translation: I hope they do everything that we can get away with to annoy the Euros and take them out of their games.

“You certainly don't want to see the spirit of the Ryder Cup endangered in any way,” Donald added.    

Polite Translation: We have learned how to beat the US, and now that we have a plan, you’ll be lucky to beat us no matter which side of the Atlantic we are on.

 And from Bradley: “It's going to be a tough atmosphere.”

Polite Translation: Bring everything you’ve got, Luke, because our fans are our 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th man, and I know I can count on them for outlandish support.

In other words, if the European Team thinks they met rowdy fans at other places in the U.S., just wait until they hit Bethpage Black.   

And if the U.S. thinks that’s going to make the Europeans back down, then Bradley’s boys are mistaken. These first polite jabs are such fun to hear, and nothing of the sort will come from the crowd on Long Island next fall.