Golf Wags ease Ryder Cup ‘imbeciles’ row
THE wives and knives were out yesterday as tension mounted on the eve of the Ryder Cup battle with the United States.
Britain's Danny Willett, 28, with wife Nicole
The partners of the European players turned on the glamour as they attended the 2016 tournament gala on Wednesday night.
But Britain’s Danny Willett, 28, will need the support of wife Nicole more than ever after his brother branded American fans a “braying mob of imbeciles”.
US vice captain Tiger Woods with Darren Clarke and his wife Alison
It was claimed last night that Willett, who won the Masters in April, is now the “most-hated golfer in the US” as he prepares for the event which starts today at Hazeltine, Minnesota.
Europe captain Darren Clarke is said to be infuriated by the remarks which will ratchet up tensions.
But his wife Alison, a former Miss Northern Ireland, will doubtless be on hand to offer soothing words of comfort.
Helen Storey is all smiles alongside Lee Westwood
There will be plenty of European “other halves” at the event including Rory McIlroy’s fiancee Erica Stoll and Lee Westwood’s girlfriend Helen Storey.
McIlroy proposed with an oval cut diamond ring believed to be worth £500,000 and he and Erica plan to wed next summer.
Also providing back up is Spanish golfer Rafa Cabrera-Bello’s girlfriend Sofia Lundstedt.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello with Sofia Lundstedt
Willett was keen to defuse his bother Peter’s remarks in an article for National Club Golfer.
Peter Willett, a 33-year-old teacher from Birmingham, said: “For the Americans to stand a chance of winning, they need their baying mob of imbeciles to caress their egos every step of the way.
"Darren Clarke needs to pick his pairs carefully and the crowd needs to be dealt with swiftly… If not the Americans will claim their second victory this century... those fat, stupid, greedy, classless ********.”