By Kitrina Douglas BBC Sport

It's all very well American Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange saying this year "all the players" will be on their best behaviour.

It was obvious to anyone attending the 1999 Ryder Cup, that the behaviour and conduct of the European team was exemplary.

Following the antics in Brookline, the feeling in America was there hadn't been any poor behaviour on their part or anything to feel bad about.

Whilst the European press criticised the American team, the American press acted as if nothing outrageous took place.

The reaction of European players was explained away as 'sour grapes'.

I have a different view. I was there standing beside the 17th green as the whole American team engulfed Justin Leonard, who had just holed a mammoth putt.

So much so that Jose Maria Olazabal was obscured from view.

It took the match referee quite a while to get everyone off the putting green to enable Olazabal to putt.

But this unnecessary display was merely the straw that broke the camel's back.

The behaviour of the US was already far from exemplary long before this point.

David Duval could be seen walking down the fairway with a clenched fist inciting the American crowd to cheer more vociferously as European team members were trying to play their shots.

How about Ben Crenshaw's tactics on the eve of the final day?

Isn't recalling American battle victories taking things a little too far?

In my opinion Strange's remarks indicate that the Americans are attempting to 'put things right'.

I applaud their gestures and a final realisation that golf had momentarily hit its lowest point.