The Ryder Cup revealed sport’s beauty and brokenness

Europe’s dramatic victory in the Ryder Cup was sport at its finest - and its most toxic. As fans hurled abuse and players showed grace, the tournament revealed competition’s power to both glorify and corrupt, says Jonny Reid

Europe won the Ryder Cup 15–13 on Sunday evening. Those nine words conceal a wealth of drama: one of sport’s greatest comebacks narrowly thwarted, twelve individuals forged into a team, and normally sedate golf crowds transformed into fervent fans. The Ryder Cup draws us in like little else: national pride, elite skill, high stakes and visible emotion create a compelling spectacle.

For me, watching this year’s contest was both deeply enjoyable and profoundly uncomfortable. The thrill of competition sat alongside the shame of fans’ behaviour - especially on Saturday, when some of the most abusive scenes in professional sport played out.

As a fan, I felt conflicted. Should I enjoy European players biting back at the crowd? Why was I feeling such animosity towards the American team because of a minority hurling insults?