On Bethpage Black late Saturday, we finally saw some American energy as Europeans cruised and turned the Ryder Cup into a laugh—although this example is included in the tense moments of green.
Europe won three of four three-quarters games, with Europe continuing all four afternoon four-ball matches, with the rout continuing. The unbalanced scores knocked the juice out of the event, but then appeared in the 15th green Justin Rose putt.
Rose and Tommy Fleetwood scored three shots after 14-holes against Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler, stepping on his birdie attempt on the 15th Green Rose. Ross studied putting from behind the ball, but then he paused, said something, waving Dechambeau’s caddie, Greg Bodine, who began to approach the nearby Mark in DeChambeau. Usually mild roses are angry.
NBC’s reporter Smylie Kaufman on the road called it “heating exchange.”
“Justin Rose just told Greg Bodine’s Bryson’s caddie that when he read the putt, he got off the road,” Kaufman said. “I think there’s something wrong with people who aren’t there.”
The rose runs out of putters-his eighth Day – and then wait for DeChambeau, who needs to get his birdies to try to expand the game.
“The green right is still communicating,” Kaufman said. “I think Greg Bodine came over to apologize or bring up a case, and Justin really didn’t.”
DeChambeau rolled in the birds to tie the holes, but his celebrations were surrendered. Instead, as they walked out of the green, he began talking to Ross and Fleetwood. The camera follows the player to the 16th tee, where things get even more intense.
An animated Dechambeau tweets at Fleetwood, Scheffler’s caddie Ted Scott has a tense conversation with European vice captain Edoardo Molinari. Fleetwood intentionally walks between Scott and Molinari.
Golf Channel
Fleetwood’s caddie Ian Finnis can be heard on the radio, saying, “Let us all relax.”
The conversation continued on the next tee, and Finnise tried to play the peacemaker, telling DeChambeau and Bodine: “Let’s play. He can take as long as possible.”
“Let’s go play, let’s play,” DeChambeau told the group. “all is well.”
Minutes later, the broadcast caught up with the group, and Kaufman provided an update: “No exaggerated people – everyone on this t-shirt was heated.”
Later, after finishing the 3 and 2 wins, Ross explained the situation in a post-interview with Golf Channel’s Damon Hack.
“It’s a game because it’s a really, really good game, and it’s a shame,” Ross said. “I’m waiting for putts. The boys are obviously trying to read, obviously doing their calculations, fragments and pieces. So I waited for a few seconds and then I think they’re coming again. I questioned. I questioned – it’s my putt, right? Or I said, maybe I didn’t say it politely like I said, but there was no habit, or something, or something.
“I don’t think we should be honest about it. I said to the boy, if you want me to say, please ask me, ‘, that’s right, I’m not good.”
Fleetwood was asked about the follow-up, i.e. whether that moment was an example of what the Ryder Cup did to its competitors.
He shrugged.
“I think this is part of it, right?” he said. “It’s two days of golf and a lot of great golf. … happened.”
Europe leads the U.S. 11.5-4.5 in the remaining 12 singles games, meaning that if the Americans want a chance at Bethpage Black on Sunday, the Americans will have a lot of work to do.
