Justin Leonard celebrates after sinking a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole on the final day in 1999. His high emotions set off a frenzied reaction by teammates and their spouses on the left side of the green, though Europe’s Jose Maria Olazabal still had a birdie putt remaining. When he missed, and the U.S. triumphed, European co-captain Sam Torrance called the celebration “one of the most disgusting things I have seen in my life.”
The Ryder Cup, More Than Just Golf
TIME looks back at some of the occasions when it was more than just the golf that caught the world's attention