Farmingdale, New York —

The fans that line the holes at Bethpage Black have a reputation in the golf world – they’re loud, boisterous, occasionally rude and oftentimes vulgar.

For most of Friday and Saturday, they were subdued. Team Europe sprinted out of the gates and racked up a shocking lead, quieting the American fans who were convinced that Ryder Cup glory was headed their way.

But by Saturday afternoon, with the drinks flowing and the Europeans appearing to sprint away with the tournament, the intensity went up quite a bit, raising questions about whether American fans had crossed the line with their heckling of European players.

Golf is generally a genteel and polite game. There are so many unwritten rules of etiquette upon which players are judged infinitely more than their skill. Tournaments are usually quiet, docile affairs in which silence is expected – there’s even something called the “golf clap,” after all.

So, while the atmosphere at Bethpage Black on Saturday wouldn’t have been all that out of place at a college football game, an NFL game or a big basketball game, it was unusual for the game of golf – and even for a louder tournament such as the Ryder Cup.

“It was loud. It was raucous. What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to