I agree with Kevin Cullen’s condemnation of the verbal abuse directed at Europe’s Ryder Cup golf team members (“Out of bounds at Ryder,” Metro, Oct. 1). No one deserves to be treated that way, especially professional athletes representing their country or continent in a challenging, high-pressure, high-stakes sporting event.
I attended the Ryder Cup on Sept. 27. It is unfortunate that a very small percentage of unruly spectators tainted what was otherwise a gallery of 50,000 well-behaved golf fans with their disgusting rants.
I have no way of knowing, but I wonder to what extent alcohol consumption contributed to the bad behavior. Concession stands selling beer and other alcoholic beverages were plentiful throughout the golf course, and were open for business very early in the morning, when the competition started at 7:10 am. It seems at least plausible that some of the verbal abuse was fueled by too many beers.