Europeans are wusses who can't handle heat

AMERICAN icon Lanny Wadkins has branded the Europeans "wusses" and reckons their complaints about rival Ryder Cup fans smacks of hypocrisy.

- BY CRAIG SWAN

The 75-year-old launched the brutal barb as Luke Donald's team prepare to go into the Bethpage bearpit next week.

Europe's players have been wearing virtual reality headsets to replicate the abuse they expect from a vociferous home crowd in New York, with Rory Mcilroy revealing they were trying to "desensitise" themselves as much as possible before their arrival.

Wadkins was a stalwart of the showpiece, making eight playing appearances between 1977 and 1993 before taking on the captain's role in 1995 at The Belfry. Only two US players have amassed more Ryder Cup points than him - Arnold Palmer and Billy Casper.

Wadkins insists the partisan atmosphere McIlroy and Co will face is no different to what the Americans contend with on away soil. The only difference, he says, is that they don't moan about it.

When asked if he had concerns about USA supporters crossing the line, he replied: "I don't think they ever have. I think, for the most part, they've been rowdy.