AS EUROPEANS, AMERICANS TANGLE, FIRST-TEE GRANDSTAND WHIPS UP A FRENZY
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES,
FRANCE— They booed the Americans. They chanted the names of their European heroes. Once again, this time on a warm French morning, the vast Ryder Cup crowds that massed to witness the first shots provided a spectacle unlike any other in sports.
Otherwise perfectly sensible adults donned silly hats and costumes, breakfasted on beer and sang their hearts out. A wall of noise, whistles, cheers, chants, jeers and encouragement cascaded down the grandstand.
It has 6,928 seats, making it the largest first-tee grandstand ever at a Ryder Cup.
“Unbelievable,” said Kyle Snowdon, 41, who traveled from Phoenix, Arizona, for the experience and to cheer on the US team. “The people, the spirit, the camaraderie—even though we’re on the other side.”
The feverish, pressure-cooker atmo- sphere all seemed a bit too much for Ryder Cup rookie Tony Finau, who hit the first shot at Le Golf National and overcooked it. European fans cheered loudly when his 3-iron off the tee landed right at the edge of the water at No. 1, leading to a bogey. Fans cheered again when Justin Rose’s second shot plopped sweet- ly about 3 feet from the cup.
His birdie putt then gave Europe an early lead.
But the Americans struck back and took the early lead, behind Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.
Woods birdied the par-3 second and par-5 ninth to win each as he and Patrick Reed seized a 1-up edge at the turn over English rookie Tommy Fleetwood and Italian Francesco Molinari.
At the turn, US duos led in three matches with Europe atop the other.