SAM Torrance will regard it as the greatest honour of his life if he is asked to take over from Mark James as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain.
If he does the 46-year-old Scot will do all he can to ensure the behaviour of players and crowd alike will be better at The Belfry in 2001 than it was in Boston this weekend.
Torrance was appalled by some of the heckling he heard from American fans in their 14.5 to 13.5 victory at Brookline – especially at Colin Montgomerie.
He was equally outraged by the over-reaction of members of Ben Crenshaw's side to Justin Leonard’s 45-foot putt on the 17th green against Jose Maria Olazabal.
On the crowd behaviour, which became so bad that Montgomerie’s father, James, could not stand any more and left, Torrance said: “I saw more heckling out there than at any other Ryder Cup I’ve been at.
“Monty got called some bad things – I was there when it happened. I’m sure we’ll learn from this. I’m sure the galleries will. I’m sure they’ll wake up and realise they said things they shouldn’t have.”
The Boston Globe, ran with the international event on the front page, devoted copious amounts to the story. One columnist got caught up in the fist-pumping most of the American players displayed after making putt after putt, saying: “The US team didn’t just defeat the Europeans. They moidered da bums ... this wasn’t golf. This was tourist abuse.”
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THE victorious Down minor team made their triumphant return to the Mourne county last night as hundreds of supporters lined the streets of Newry to give their conquering heroes a tumultuous reception.
For the first time in 12 years the Tom Markham Cup was held aloft in Marcus Square and the moment was savoured by the delighted supporters.
Fathers carried children on their shoulders to get a good view of the 30-strong panel as they filed onto the platform to the strains of a pipe band.
Chairman of Newry and Mourne district council, Josephine O’Hare, offered congratulations to the entire team and singled out the six young men who hail from her home town of Mayobridge.
Special mention went to her nephew PJ McAlinden who she hoped would bring back another All-Ireland in the future, namely the Sam Maguire.
The Canal Court Hotel was the first stop for the team as they embarked on their triumphant tour of the town.
It was truly an occasion for all the family with everyone clamouring for a glimpse of the precious silver trophy. For the team themselves the reality of victory was just beginning to sink in as supporters gathered round them looking for autographs.
As the coach left Newry supporters rushed to their cars to follow the team on to their next port of call inMayobridge before making their way to Hilltown and finally Castlewellan, home town of team manager Gerry Dougherty.
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CARRICKMORE have injury doubts over Fergal Gormley (shoulder) and captain Ronan McGarrity (knee) for their AIB Ulster Club Championship first round tie against Cargin at Casement Park. Cargin are said to have no major injury problems.
The Cargin v Carrickmore game will be part one of a double-header at Casement with Cushendall facing Ballygalget later in the afternoon in the Ulster Club Hurling decider.
Ballygalget skipper Kevin Coulter is definitely out of the final after picking up a broken arm in the semi-final win over Dungannon. Coulter could be out of hurling for the remainder of 1999
Bellaghy skipper Karl Diamond is expected to miss Sunday’s encounter against the Monaghan champions, Castleblayney.
Diamond is on holiday in Florida and, according to Bellaghy sources, will not return in time for the match.
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CATHAL Brugha got the new season off to a good start when they went to Galway and beat league newcomers Corrib 12-8 on Saturday night.
Aidan McMahon and Conor Campfield both scored hat-tricks, with the other goals coming from Ciaran McGurk, Desy Monaghan (2) and Tony Cassidy (2).
Their second string also won with Darren Donnelly hitting six in a 12-5 romp.
