Fore!

So worldly and yet so sheltered. Europe’s astonishment over the boorish behavior by the United States players and fans at the Ryder Cup golf match last weekend showed that the team from across the water ignored one of the prime rules of competition: Know your opponent.

Is it possible that our good friends the Europeans had never seen a game between the Boston Red Sox and the N.Y. Yankees? The Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins? How about a parental matchup during a meeting of the Little League squads from Sal’s Pizza and City Auto Salvage? Want crude, unmodulated hectoring and goof-on-you salutes? They are as loud and abundant in America as the carminative effects of a sausage celebration are in Europe.

Perhaps our friends thought golf was different. A more refined game for more refined people. Psshaw, if there is such a word. Twenty years ago a class distinction existed — the wealthy in stretchy plaid pants and white metal-spiked golf shoes gave golf a monied, if sartorially challenged look. But even before some intrepid spectator offered “You da man!” after a big drive, golf had come to and been changed by the masses.

Certainly, U.S. Ryder Cup Capt. Ben Crenshaw had to mournfully apologize for the explosion of bad sportsmanship on the 17th green after Justin Leonard’s cup-winning 45-foot birdie. Americans did the golf version of the end-zone dance even though Mr. Leonard’s opponent, Jose Maria Olazabal, had yet to putt. Europe was enraged — newspapers there called the scene disgusting and disgraceful. They could have called it par for the course. Happy duffers in shorts and tee-shirts here can be found at just about any public muni tromping on each other’s lie and offering ribald commentary about their partners’ performances. Think anyone cares?

They don’t. And though there may be embarrassed clucking at some of the better clubhouses around the nation, the reaction at the Ryder Cup was mere confirmation that America has fully embraced the venerable sport of golf. Europeans may be left to wonder what the next sport will be to catch the public’s fancy.

Cricket, anyone?