Brandt Snedeker urged fans to “be savages” at Thursday’s Presidents Cup at Medinah, but the crowd stayed subdued: the morning’s loudest cheers went to helicopters, while International player Ryo Hisatsune got a few polite groans after missing a short putt.
The restrained scene followed last year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where fans abused European players and their families. A first-tee announcer was forced out for leading a vulgar chant against Rory McIlroy, and PGA of America president Don Rea Jr. lost his post partly after downplaying fan behavior. Players’ wives were guarded again at Medinah after a cup of beer had been thrown at McIlroy’s wife at Bethpage.
The U.S. won Thursday’s four-ball session 3–2. The Internationals’ wins came from Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune (3&1) and Tom Kim and S.W. Kim (3&2). The article says the Internationals have won the Presidents Cup only once, and there is talk that PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp is reconsidering whether to keep the lopsided format.
