Azinger tells fans its okay to cheer when Europeans miss

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger refused to apologise for asking American fans to cheer when European players missed putts after watching his men take a 3-1 lead in the opening foursomes on Friday.

Azinger had come under criticism after telling fans at a U.S. team pep rally in downtown Louisville on Thursday night that they could cheer missed shots.

The U.S. captain's comments were widely seen as unsportsmanlike, signalling a possible return to the heckling and yobbish behaviour that has plagued past Ryder Cups.

"Essentially, when we go over there (to Europe), they cheer when we miss," Azinger told reporters. "I don't think that the American fans are really into what the Ryder Cup is all about, that there is that other element.

"It wasn't meant to be malicious and I'm really proud that the fans have been absolutely perfectly behaved this morning.

"But that really is all that it was. It was kind of an education, enlightening (the fans) to what goes on over there.

"If we lose a hole or we miss a putt, they cheer. I don't think the American fans get that part.

"Everybody oohs and aahs but the European fans, they get it. The American fans, they don't, and they are not used to that.

"I was just making sure that they understood that if we win a hole, they can cheer, and even if somebody misses a putt for us to win a hole.

"So that's really all that was."

Eager to capitalise on home course advantage, Azinger had made an effort to fire up home side support, asking fans to become the team's 13th man.

The U.S. enjoyed a wide margin of support from the 40,000 spectators around Valhalla Golf Club, who cheered enthusiastically throughout the opening matches without incident.

"I think you'll find that so far, the great fans of Kentucky have not done anything to let us down or embarrass us," said Azinger.

"I don't know if you could ever find a more enthusiastic group of fans anywhere in the world than what we had here this morning and they were all properly behaved. So I'm really proud of that fact."

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)