LEGENDARY golf broadcaster Butch Harmon has reflected on last year’s Ryder Cup in which he withdrew from the coverage.
It comes just days before The Masters – where he will be a pundit at Augusta for Sky Sports.
Harmon recently slammed some American fans for their behaviour at the Ryder Cup in Bethpage, New York.
The former player and coach said: “I thought the Ryder Cup was disgusting and it was embarrassing being American.”
He added: “I had planned to work with the Sky team [at Bethpage] and decided to pull out for that main reason.
“I felt we would spend more time talking about what was going on in the galleries than we would on the golf.
“I hated the way things were going at the Ryder Cup. I thought it was a terrible embarrassment and let’s hope it never happens again.”
His comments were in reference to the abuse suffered by Rory McIlroy from American fans.
It became so bad that the holder of The Masters had to stop playing.
He also said that his wife Erica was subjected to abuse he “couldn’t even repeat” during the tournament.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Harmon expressed his satisfaction with the contrast between the Ryder Cup and The Masters as he prepares to be part of Sky Sports Golf’s team of pundits.
He said: “This is the beauty of Augusta. These are the best-behaved patrons in all of golf.
“This place is like the Holy Grail of golf in the US.”
McIlroy was recently tipped by Harmon to go on and win following his historic victory last year.
The legendary coach reckons the current champion will have a new lease of confidence after shaking off the pressure of winning the famous green jacket last year.
In an interview with The Sun he said: “Normally I would say there would be more pressure on him with a chance to defend his title.
“But he’s got it off his back that he is a Masters champion. Last year, he pulled it off in phenomenal fashion.
“He can walk around in his green jacket all day long and he’s going to love every minute of that, I guarantee.
“So because he won last year, I don’t think he’s going to be as uptight.”
The bookies’ favourite for the tournament is currently Scottie Scheffler at 6-1.
McIlroy is a 13-1 chance to retain his title.
However Harmon’s family connections stand him in good stead to know what it takes to win The Masters.
His father Claude Harmon won it in 1948.
The Masters kicks-off on Thursday 9 April with the final day being Sunday 12.
