Masters champion Danny Willett has claimed his brother Peter’s controversial comments about American fans were right following a dismal Ryder Cup debut.
Peter Willett wrote an article in National Club Golfer magazine before the event which described American fans as a “baying mob of imbeciles”, “cretins” and “dim Yanks”.
Danny Willett said before the start of play that it was “a bad article written at a bad time”.
Willett played poorly as Europe slipped to a 17-11 defeat which was marred by heckling from sections of the American support towards members of the European team.
“Very strange week here at the Ryder cup.. Tried my best but played poorly,” Danny Willett wrote on Twitter.
“Unfortunately some american fans showed that @P_J_Willett was In fact correct..
Very strange week here at the Ryder cup.. Tried my best but played poorly.. Unfortunately some american fans showed that @P_J_Willett was..
— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) October 3, 2016
“Nothing to blame my bad play on.. But still shows that sometimes fans don’t know when to call it a day.. Shame really!!”
.. In fact correct.. Nothing to blame my bad play on.. But still shows that sometimes fans don't know when to call it a day.. Shame really!!
— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) October 3, 2016
Danny Willett did not feature in the Friday morning foursomes and was hammered 5&4 by Brooks Koepka in Sunday’s singles.
He was also beaten in the Friday fourballs by Koepka and Brandt Snedeker alongside Martin Kaymer while he and Lee Westwood lost by one hole to JB Holmes and Ryan Moore in Saturday’s fourballs.
Raucous crowds at Hazeltine heckled Rory McIlroy in particular as the hosts regained the trophy for the first time since 2008.
The Northern Irishman admitted “a couple of people crossed the line” but said that was “to be expected”, while Lee Westwood and captain Darren Clarke praised the American team and staff for attempting to maintain order.
Willett also retweeted a post showing a video extract from his press conference.
Brutal honesty from @Danny_Willett in the post @RyderCupEurope presser. #RyderCup #TeamEurope #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/6hTXwCzMZ4
— Richard Maspero (@richardmaspero) October 3, 2016
Asked to describe his first Ryder Cup experience, the Englishman – seen with a can of lager beside him – emphatically responded: “S***.”
That prompted laughter and even a high-five before Willett added with a shrug: “I can only be honest. Sorry, would you like me to elaborate? Really s***.”
