Monday, November 8, 1999
Shades of Ryder Cup: Fans cheer Woods' water
shot
BY STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer
SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) — American fans were bashed for
partisan cheering at the Ryder Cup.
On Sunday, Spanish fans went wild when Tiger Woods hit into
the water on No. 17 — and Woods and Tom Lehman hit right
back.
“It's unfortunate,” said Woods, who beat Spanish
favorite Miguel Angel Jimenez in a one-hole playoff to win the
American Express Championship.
“They got on us for the Ryder Cup and the way we reacted,
and unfortunately they did the same thing.
“I think it has nothing to do with the Ryder Cup, I think
it had to do with a person from their own country playing well
and in a big event. He's had a tremendous year in Spain ... and
obviously they wanted him to win.”
Lehman was perhaps the most widely criticized American player
for leading a charge onto the 17th green in the Ryder Cup victory.
He said he was “appalled” by the cheering Sunday.
“For us to have been criticized so much at the Ryder Cup,
then to have them cheering for balls in the water and for missed
putts, just proves people want their own guys to win,” he
said. “You kind of give up your right to criticize if you
do that.”
Lehman also found water on the 17th. So did David Frost, who
went in three times and took a 10 on 17.
Justin Leonard was also a target Sunday, especially since he
was paired with Jose Maria Olazabal.
Leonard made a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th at The Country
Club that ultimately clinched the Ryder Cup. American players
and their wives danced across the green, even though Olazabal
still had a 25-foot putt to tie the match. He missed, and later
said the celebration did not affect the outcome.
Still, when Leonard hit a poor bunker shot on the sixth hole
Sunday, a few Spanish fans began to clap and cheer. Leonard glared,
and Olazabal came to his defense, asking the guilty party to behave.
Leonard then rolled in a 35-foot putt to save par.
“That was the first time I heard anything all week,”
Leonard said.
Leonard was also cheered when he hit into the water on the
17th.
“I was 5-over at that point,” he said. “You'd
think there would be some sympathy there.”
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