Always vociferous, the Boston crowd will most probably play a factor this week. In 1999, the fans who descended on Brookline for the Ryder Cup famously heckled Team Europe, at times emotion spilling over to the unsavoury. Just ask Colin Montgomerie. Ultimately, the home team enjoyed the partisan support, using it to their advantage as the United States overturned a then-record, four-point deficit to triumph.
While this week should be nowhere near as tribal as the biennial battle between continents, the LIV Golf development adds an intriguing subplot. How will Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, in particular, be received? Sentiment has been stirred by the new series, and only deepened by some of the game’s starriest names signing up.
Updated: January 11, 2024, 5:40 AM
