Rory McIlroy Slams American Golf Fans’ ‘Unacceptable and Abusive’ Behavior After Drink Thrown at Wife at Ryder Cup

McIlroy repeatedly sparred with unruly fans during this weekend’s Ryder Cup event in New York

Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy was not happy about the treatment he received from American golf fans during this weekend’s Ryder Cup event in New York.

The annual United States-versus-Europe event was heated this year, in large part due to fans’ consistent heckling of McIlroy, 36, and other Team Europe players throughout the weekend team tournament, which began Friday, Sept.

26, and ultimately saw Europe win 15-13 over the U.S.

squad on Sunday, Sept.28.

Throughout the weekend, McIlroy and other European players sparred with fans, with some, including McIlroy, yelling back at hecklers, while others reportedly flashed middle fingers in response to fans’ jeers.

At one point while McIlroy walked to his next shot alongside his wife Erica, a fan appeared to throw a beer at him, which instead hit his wife, according to ESPN.

“The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane,” McIlroy told reporters after Europe capped off its win Sunday, according to the outlet.

He added, “Look, nothing was going to happen.

There wasn’t going to be a physical altercation or anything like that….

There was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behavior.”

In what may go down as the most infamous moment from the weekend, McIlroy snapped at a heckler before making an impressive approach shot on the 16th hole on Saturday, Sept.

27, turning and telling the fan to “shut the f— up” during his shot.

McIlroy called the moment “very f—ing satisfying” after he nestled the 149-yard shot from the rough just three feet from the hole, according to Golf Digest.

He sunk a birdie on the next shot, the outlet reported.

Rory McIlroy.
“I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that,” McIlroy told members of the media on Sunday.

“It was a rough week for all of us, but at the same time, we shut them up by our performance.”

ESPN and NPR reported that New York State Police said two people had been thrown off the course on Saturday following the incident with McIlroy on the 16th hole, while police said “additional” officers were dispatched to the course the rest of the weekend to help handle unruly fans.

Rory McIlroy.
NPR also reported that comedian Heather McMahan, who was an official emcee with the Ryder Cup in charge of announcing the first hole, stepped away from her duties after she led foul-mouthed chants towards McIlroy on the mic.

McMahan later apologized, according to BBC Sport, which reported that the comedian “extended an apology to Rory Mcllroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup,” according to a statement shared by the PGA of America with BBC Sport.

The entire weekend left the 2025 Master champion reflecting on what should be tolerated on a golf course, telling ESPN and other members of the media that he was fed up by the end of the tournament.

“I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf,” McIlroy said.

“I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf.

I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.”.