Bad boys in the hall of shame

Sep 7 2008

Top 5 Bust-Ups

1 A STORM erupted when Tommy "Thunder" Bolt collided with Scottish hardman Eric Brown at Lindrick in 1957.

One player joked he had seen the pair "standing at 50 paces throwing clubs at each other" before their match.

The needle continued as Brown won 4&3 with the Scot ordering his caddie to fetch a chair because Bolt was playing too slowly.

That didn't go down well with the American who also took a pop at the crowd. He said: "They are about as miserable a bunch of people as you could have the misfortune to run into."

2 PASSIONS boiled over at Birkdale in 1969 when Bernard Gallacher and Brian Huggett crashed to defeat against America's Dave Hill and Ken Still.

Jack Nicklaus memorably conceded a putt to Tony Jacklin that year but things were far less sporting in the foursomes.

The fiery clash sparked a bitter war of words that ended with Hill telling Gallacher: "If you say one more word I'll wrap this oneiron round your head."

3 SEVEBALLESTEROS went bats at the Belfry in 1989 when he lost in the singles to US rookie Paul Azinger.

The Spaniard was already in a bad mood after his opponent and the referee refused to let him change a cut ball early on.

And he then blew his top when Azinger was given a favourable drop after hitting water at 18.

Seve lost concentration after this and plopped into water himself to gift his rival victory.

4 AMERICA'S 1991 win at Kiawah Island became known as the War On The Shore.

Europe's players were the victims of crank calls and there was more bad blood between Azinger and Ballesteros.

The crowd were also accused of helping Hale Irwin's final drive get back in a good position during the decisive final game.

5 THE Yanks shamed themselves again at the Battle of Brookline in 1999.

They celebrated Justin Leonard's birdie putt at the 18th as if they had won - even though Jose Maria Olazabal still had a chance to keep Europe in it.

Tom Lehman was seen as the ringleader and Sam Torrance said:

"He calls himself a man of God.

His behaviour today has been disgusting."