Team Europe Wags warned to STAY OFF Ryder Cup course over fears they will be abused

A FORMER European Ryder Cup hero has warned the away wives NOT to watch the action at Bethpage Black – to avoid horrific abuse.

Andrew Coltart was part of the 1999 European team that lost the Battle of Brookline 14 1⁄2 – 13 1⁄2 to the USA.

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Europe led 10-6 going into Sunday but the Americans dominated the singles to clinch the narrow victory in front of a raucous and fiery home crowd.

And Coltart is worried for the families of Luke Donald’s men when they face the USA in noisy New York next weekend.

The Scot, who lost his only Ryder Cup match in the singles to Tiger Woods, flagged the idea of partners and parents staying indoors during the action when he spoke at the GB & Ireland vs Europe Team Cup in January.

Coltart, 55, told SunSport: “My wife wasn’t getting abused because she was back home as she’d just given birth the week before to our first child.

“But some of the other wives and girlfriends had been getting abuse from the crowd.

“It was just normal derogatory things that, unfortunately, you would expect from a group of blokes that probably had too much to drink.

“So for Bethpage Black, I offered up the suggestion that it might not be a great idea to go out there and they can watch it from a room where it’s safe and secure.

“Now I know that’s not what they want, they’ll want to be there with their man or their son to give them support.

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“But it potentially can be an atmosphere they will never ever be used to and it could be quite upsetting and challenging for them.

“As a player, you deal with these things but nobody wants their wife or partner to be abused and there’s no way the crowd control and the stewards are going to be able to stop that.”

Coltart largely escaped the direct wrath of the American fanbase in 1999 as he went down 3&2 to Woods during the red scoreboard surge.

He is confident all 12 of the European team will be able to cope with whatever the New York crowd throw at them – especially with VR headsets simulating the personal insults some may face – but knows one slip-up could be dangerous.

Sky Sports pundit Coltart added: “I have absolutely no doubt, no fear about anybody cracking. They’ll all be able to deal with it in some shape or form.

“They’re all a bunch of pretty stoic, determined, top-quality golfers.

‘BAYING FOR BLOOD’

“You just hope nobody reacts to the crowd and gives them something to feed off.

“You’ve got to deal with the 13th man over there and that man is going to be very tribal, very febrile. The American support is baying for blood.

“This is a cauldron of fire where the American supporters are just going to throw everything they possibly can at them.

“They might target Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm both because of going to LIV and because they’re both incredibly fiery characters who wear their heart on their sleeve.

“Bob MacIntyre responded to some criticism at the BMW Championship when he pointed his putter at somebody.

“When it’s in your character to fight back, it’s tough to quell that. But they’ll have to be careful.”

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