There were strong reactions from golf fans, sportswriters and even former players about the bad behavior at Long Island's Bethpage Black over the weekend .

The abuse and taunts were so horrible that former U.S. team captain Tom Watson took to social media to apologize to the European players saying "as a former player, Captain and as an American, I am ashamed of what happened."

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Ryder Cup tournaments are known for their spirited and passionate fans, but this year many say the heckling and taunting reached a fever pitch. It began before the first tee Saturday morning when a PGA-hired emcee led the crowd on chant, cursing out Rory McIlroy, the second-ranked golfer in the world.

Mark Cannizzaro, a sports columnist

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