Tensions have flared up at Bethpage Black after an incident during the fourballs match between Bryson Dechambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
Team Europe made a stunning start to the Ryder Cup in New York, taking a commanding lead on day one and continued their red‑hot form on the second day.
After back‑to‑back 3‑1 victories in the foursomes, Europe again fielded their strong line‑ups in the fourballs with Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose tasked to face the world no.1 Scottie Scheffler and one of the most popular golfers in the world in Bryson Dechambeau.
The crowd in New York have been criticised online for their behaviour during proceedings with both Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy involved in multiple incidents with fans during their match against Cameron Young and Justin Thomas.
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Tensions threatened to boil over on the 15th hole as caddies and players clashed after Rose and Dechambeau putted to keep the lead at 3‑points.
Rose had asked Dechambeau’s caddie, Gregory Bodine, to move out of his eyeline before sinking his putt and things turned ugly while walking to the 16th tee.
Rose was confronted by Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, while Fleetwood was involved in words with Dechambeau. Sky Sports commentators claimed the American ‘had got it all wrong’ before Scott put his hands on Europe vice‑captain Francesco Molinari.
Fleetwood’s caddie, Ian Finnis, attempted to calm things down after the group arrived on the tee.
He was pictured speaking to Bodine saying: “Let’s just all chill out. Let’s play. He can take as long as he wants.”
After securing another point for Team Europe, Rose confirmed exactly what caused the incident when speaking to Sky Sports.
"It was a shame the match got to that point, it was a really great match. I was waiting to putt, the boys were working on their read, going through their calculations. I waited a few seconds and I felt like they came up again. I questioned, 'it's my putt right?'.
"Maybe I didn't say it as politely as I could have said it in the moment but by no means was there any disrespect but obviously it was taken the wrong way.
"I don't think we should dwell on that, I said to the boys if you want me to say 'excuse me please', then yeah my bad. But it was amazing match."
Fleetwood added on the incident: "It's one moment out of two days of a lot of golf and a lot of great golf. It happens, I don't think it's that big of a deal."
Rose added that it's water under the bridge in his eyes ahead of the single's matchups on Sunday.
He added: "I hope so, I spoke to the boys, it should be [put to bed]. There was no intent behind it whatsoever. I think especially Scottie, I admire him more than anyone else on tour the way he goes about his business, the way he goes about his life. Just huge respect all around from my point of view, it's something that has been taken in a way it wasn't intended. It was a big putt, a big moment, I'm trying to control my environment as well in that scenario. We're all competitors right. I think that's all within the framework of what we've got to do out here."
Marcus Banks