The Saturday McILroy and Shane Lowry Shane Lowry session with Bethpage Black has become chaotic while American fans have heckled the Irish from the North. Security had to intervene, with around twenty police officers stationed near the 10th tee, some by bicycle, to control the crowd.
McILroy had to take a break after insults and personal obscenities. On the 16th hole, a fan shouted “freedom”, inciting McILroy to break: “The guys, close the ****”, before answering with a specific iron shot landing less than three feet from the flag.
Lowry has also become part of the drama, draining an eagle putt winner of a hole while making a gesture with anger towards the crowd responsible for the previous disturbance. McILroy then spoke to a manager of the rules of repeated interruptions during the ball.
Europe leads 8½ to 3½ after Saturday’s quartets, approaching the conservation of the Ryder Cup on American soil for the first time since 2012. Rory McILroy recognized the rough atmosphere, saying:
“I don’t mind that they are throwing us. This is to be expected. This is what a Ryder Cup is outside.”
“Between the shots, say what you want me. This is quite good. But give us the respect to let us hit and give us the same chance that the Americans did.”
Justin Thomas had to act as a crowd controller, asking fans to be silent during competitors and encourage his own. Despite chaos, Europe remained in control, McILroy and Tommy Fleetwood winning their previous match.
Rory McILroy adopted a quieter approach to the heckled in front of Ryder Cup
Rory McILroy faced another American heckling during the Ryder Cup Ryder Cup on Thursday in New York. While trying to undo the upper button on his polo shirt, a fan shouted:
“You don’t need a button to stifle Rory.”
Rory McILroy laughed and nodded to his teammates, not leaving him to disturb him. The winner of the Grand Chelem faced a more difficult crowd a few moments before. In Hazeltine in 2016, he even asked a fan to be ejected after verbal violence. By manipulating heckled, he said:
“It is a difficult environment, but we expect it to be crossed by borders. I have left it several times that I should probably not have. You should keep your concentration there and it was a long day and sometimes the emotions are high.”
Rory McILroy comes to the Ryder Cup 2025 as one of the most experienced players in Europe. This 45th Ryder Cup marks its eighth appearance, with 16 victories, 13 defeats and 4 links. He was one of five European victories, including the famous “Miracle at Medinah” 2012, but also suffered difficult losses in Hazeltine in 2016 and whistling the Strait in 2021.
Edited by Sonali Verma
