Patriotism sinks sportsmanship

National pride is a tough thing to measure. But, according to various surveys and indicators, modern Americans are now thought to be more patriotic than at any time since World War II. The civil chasms of the 1960s are ancient history, the self-doubt and financial turmoil of the 1970s a barely recalled memory. And with no end in sight to what is being called the Great American Economic Miracle of the 1990s and no rival super-power left, it is little wonder few feel any need to look beyond.

Spend an evening talking to ordinary young Americans about their country and the hubris overflows. Even start to question the nation's economic, moral or democratic authority over the rest of us and you had better be well-armed for a feisty debate.

Such passions, of course, need a public outlet. And they recently found one in a most bizarre setting - the supposedly delicate world of golf, a game once dominated by mutual respect and etiquette.

An explosion of nationalism on the last day of the Ryder Cup tournament in Brookline, Boston, a rare team event that pits the best American golfers against their European rivals, has swelled into a full-blown controversy.

And 10 days after the incident, it is showing no signs of easing. 'The arrival of the golf hooligan,' the headlines now thunder.

Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic - including presidential candidate George W Bush - have chipped in their two cents worth, while high-brow essayists are running around quoting George Orwell's dire warnings about sport and jingoism.

Heady stuff for a relatively straightforward sporting event. The first two days of play were marked by America's top players collapsing under the pressure of the Europeans, the overwhelming underdogs. Then on the last day the Americans staged a dramatic comeback - described by one of the more sober local columnists as 'The Best Day of Golf Ever'.