Team Europe WAGS have been warned to stay off the Ryder Cup course when they take on Team US at Bethpage Black next weekend.
Team Europe won the 2023 Ryder Cup 16.5-11.5 and are looking to defend their historic golf crown when they face their American counterparts at the end of the month.
Luke Donald captained Team Europe to success two years ago and has retained his role as captain, becoming the first to repeat his captaincy since Bernard Gallacher in 1993.
Keegan Bradley, meanwhile, will lead Team US next week, becoming the youngest Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963 in the process.
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Europe need just 14 points to retain the Ryder Cup, while US will reclaim the trophy if they earn 14.5 points in New York.
However, Team Europe still have some way to go to catch up with Team US for the number of Ryder Cup wins, doing so 15 times to the Americans’ 27.
Ryder Cup hero issues warning
And as they look to land number 16, former European Ryder Cup hero Andrew Coltart has warned wives and girlfriends to remain off the course.
Coltart was part of the 1999 European side that lost the Battle of the Brookline 14.5 – 13.5 to the US.
The Scot is worried for the families of Luke Donald’s men in New York next weekend, raising the ideas of the WAGS remaining indoors over fears they’ll be abused.
“My wife wasn't getting abused because she was back home as she'd just given birth the week before to our first child,” Coltart, who lost his only Ryder Cup match in the singles to Tiger Woods, told SunSport.
“But some of the other wives and girlfriends had been getting abuse from the crowd.
“It was just normal derogatory things that, unfortunately, you would expect from a group of blokes that probably had too much to drink.
“So for Bethpage Black, I offered up the suggestion that it might not be a great idea to go out there and they can watch it from a room where it's safe and secure.
“Now I know that's not what they want, they'll want to be there with their man or their son to give them support.
“But it potentially can be an atmosphere they will never ever be used to and it could be quite upsetting and challenging for them.
“As a player, you deal with these things but nobody wants their wife or partner to be abused and there's no way the crowd control and the stewards are going to be able to stop that.”
Team Europe can cope with abuse
Coltart, though, is confident that the European players will be able to cope with whatever abuse is thrown their way next week.
“I have absolutely no doubt, no fear about anybody cracking. They'll all be able to deal with it in some shape or form,” Coltart added.
“They're all a bunch of pretty stoic, determined, top-quality golfers.
“You just hope nobody reacts to the crowd and gives them something to feed off.
“You've got to deal with the 13th man over there and that man is going to be very tribal, very febrile. The American support is baying for blood.
“This is a cauldron of fire where the American supporters are just going to throw everything they possibly can at them."
Ben McAleer