European triumvirate are ready to keep Congressional crowd quiet

Golf’s ugly side was exposed in Maryland in 1997 as Montgomerie’s challenge for a maiden major title was undermined by not only the demons within himself, but also those from outside the ropes which he was similarly unable to control.

Two years later, the Scot was a stronger person as he carried the taunts from the galleries on his broad shoulders as Mark James’s European team battled the United States at Brookline in the Ryder Cup.

But the simmering tensions boiled over on that infamous final day when golf’s good etiquette was dragged through the mud by American players and their bawdy fans as they ran across the 17th green in Boston.

Many things have changed as the golfing world returns to Congressional, near the capital city of Washington DC, for the second major of the year and 111th playing of the US Open.

Montgomerie is no longer a major force, having come as close again to winning America’s national championship but never having claimed one of the game’s defining titles.

The Ryder Cup is played in front of partisan but respectful crowds, and Europe have used the ‘Battle of Brookline’ as a source of inspiration to win four of the next five matches.

The rudeness that accompanied Montgomerie and others is now a distant memory to be looked on as a watershed moment for golfing galleries.

It is a view shared by James, who has spent much of the last seven years playing in the United States on the Champions Tour.

A major winner in the seniors’ category – the Manchester-born European Tour stalwart who has made his home in Burley-in-Wharfedale – James is not expecting a repeat performance from the galleries at Congressional when the US Open gets underway today.

“I don’t even want to think about the players getting ‘stick’ because I don’t think they’ll get much,” he says.

“Nowadays they are isolated incidents. The authorities want golf to be watched by all and will eject anyone causing trouble.

“I have sympathy with anyone who gets ‘stick’ but the behaviour of golfers nowadays is better than you could ever wish for.

“Obviously, if someone is getting confronted you have to ignore it. I was never one to shirk confrontation, was I? But it’s not easy.”

Such was the animosity directed at Montgomerie in 1997 – whose bogey on the 71st hole cost him the title – that even his fellow competitors were moved to speak up.

Proud American Davis Love III remarked: “This has been the rowdiest gallery I think I have ever seen. They weren’t very kind to Colin.

“It’s turning into a little bit more like a baseball or basketball game where you can just yell anything you want.

“It’s unfortunate. None of this would really be happening at the British Open. They conduct themselves a lot better.”

For James, what happened at The Belfry five years later, the first instalment of the Ryder Cup following Brookline, hastened the changing of the tide.

“The ’99 Ryder Cup brought into sharp focus just how bad fans can be,” recalls the captain that year, whose side were beaten by Ben Crenshaw’s pumped-up hosts.

“I’m told that when we won the Ryder Cup in 1995 the crowd were great.

“In Boston in 1999, of course, it was a whole different kettle of fish.

“In 02 there was a big sea change, there was never a question of revenge on the minds of people at The Belfry following what happened in Boston.

“In my seven years based in the US, I’ve had this conversation with a lot of people.

“A New York crowd is totally different to a Boston crowd, and a Washington crowd is a lot closer to a New York crowd. It’s very much as it should be now with fans respecting all players.”

With no Montgomerie in the field for any spectators still bearing a grudge, it is hard to see there being much cause for intimidation from spiteful home fans this week.

The only factor could be envy, such is the dominance of European golf nowdays. At this year’s American national championship, the all-star three-ball pits the top three players in the world together, all of whom are European.

Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are at the top of their game and a triumvirate which James cannot split when looking for a winner come Sunday evening.

His admiration for Westwood, in particular, is understandable, given that the Worksop golfer was a valuable member of his team at Brookline 12 years ago and is probably a better player now than he was then.

“He had that slump in the mid 2000s but he just went away and thought about it, kept working at it and he’s come back stronger,” says James, who is planning to base himself more on the European Seniors Tour in the coming months.

“Yes, he’s not won a major, but when you think how many players have won majors in the period of 1998 to 2010 and how many have been world No 1 – that’s a giveaway to how good he is.”

Aside from the strong European contingent – James also has a suspicion for Ian Poulter – the 57-year-old anticipates a strong challenge from America’s leading three; Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Matt Kuchar.

But after eight different winners of the last eight majors, now is the time for one man to emerge from the pack.

James said: “I think what will happen is that someone will pick up the baton and win two or three like Padraig Harrington did a few years ago. The obvious picks are Donald, Westwood, Kaymer. They look so strong.”