Willett sorry for brother’s comments on U.S. fans

chaska, minn.» We interrupt the all-important preparations for the 41st Ryder Cup to bring you this important public-service message: Danny Willett is sorry. He’s sorry about the article his brother penned for the National Club Golfer calling American fans “pudgy, basement-dwelling irritants, stuffed on cookie dough and (light) beer, pausing between mouthfuls of hotdog so they can scream ‘Baba Booey’ until their jelly faces turn red.” Among other things. He’s sorry if it’s ruptured the spirit of stuffy collegiality that’s supposed to prevail at these biennial matches — at least until the opening tee shot is struck — between two world powers united in their desire chase a little white ball across expansive green meadows while keeping score.

And while we’re at it, the Englishman is sorry, too, about the errant drive on the second hole of his morning practice round that conked a spectator in the head.

“Knocked it backwards, actually,” Willett said about the fan, stifling a grin.

By the time he settled behind a microphone at a news conference later Thursday afternoon, Willett had already apologized to his parents, who are here at Hazeltine; his own captain, Darren Clarke; his 11 European teammates; U.S. captain Davis Love III; and all 12 U.S. players.

About the only person he hasn’t yet apologized to is his brother, Pete, who earned kudos for his funny, occasionally off-color running commentary on Twitter during the final round of Danny Willett’s Masters’ victory in April. Instead, his parents spoke to his brother last night “and obviously had a good chat with him . ... Pete’s apologized to me,” Willett said.

“Family is family,” he sighed a moment later. “What he said was wrong and incredibly ill-timed, but he’s still my brother.”