With the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska still almost a year away, neither U.S. captain Davis Love III nor European counterpart Darren Clarke pretend they can see the future of what might be.
But they promise golf fans this: There will be no repeat of the kerfuffle that soiled this month's Solheim Cup in Germany.
Europe won an important Saturday four-balls match by golf's rules, but lost it in the court of public opinion among golfers whose game's bedrock is etiquette and sportsmanship.
Europe's Suzann Pettersen's refusal to concede a putt on the match's 17th hole ignited a firestorm on social media that led Pettersen to use the word "sorry" four times in an online apology. The U.S. stormed back in Sunday's singles competition to win the competition.
Longtime pals Love and Clarke vowed Tuesday at Hazeltine that next September's match will mirror their friendship.
"This Ryder Cup will be played in the manner in which Davis and I respect each other," Clarke said at a Tuesday morning news conference. "We've been friends for such a long time, I hold Davis in the highest regard. He has been a good friend, but probably one of the best gentlemen in the sport. … The Solheim Cup was an unfortunate thing. What Suzann did was correct in the Rules of Golf, but in the spirit of the game it was wrong. And she admitted that with hindsight. Hindsight is always a wonderful thing."
As far as foresight goes, Love said he and Clarke will "set the tone" for their 12-man teams with messages sent this next year.
"Something will come up during the three days that is uncomfortable," Love said. "But we'll handle it as gentlemen and in a sportsmanlike way. It will be fair and competitive and fun."
