Rory McIlroy took the brunt of the New York crowd’s abuse at Bethpage Black.
Even beyond Europe’s historic win on foreign soil, the American fans’ treatment of Rory McIlroy was one of the prevailing stories of the tournament. He faced constant heckling throughout the three days, which many believed crossed the line.
McIlroy responded to fans frequently throughout his rounds and maintained his exceptionally high standard of play despite the environment. His resilience made for a legendary Ryder Cup performance.
Keegan Bradley defended the Ryder Cup fans after the abuse reached a fever pitch on Sunday, but not all Americans feel the same. Johnson Wagner expressed his embarrassment about the New York crowd.
Rory McIlroy’s response to Ryder Cup fans surprised Johnson Wagner
Wagner, a three-time PGA Tour winner turned TV analyst, is a New York local with decades of experience playing at Bethpage Black. He walked the course on all three days at the Ryder Cup and experienced the full extent of the home crowd’s behavior.
His reflection? He was furious at the fans for their treatment of McIlroy. He said to Fried Egg Golf, “A lot of these people would be immediately fired from their job. Immediately.
“I’m not calling for these people to have their faces put online and just be crushed, but it is sick, and golf is better than that. New York is better than that, and Bethpage is one of my favourite places.
“I have spent the night in that parking lot eight times when I was in high school and college to go and to go and play that first tee time.
“That was not what Bethpage, New York, and the USA is about. It’s gross, and I think it’s this new culture that needs to get out of the game of golf, that it’s okay to say that kind of thing.”
McIlroy responded verbally to the fans throughout Saturday’s action. During the morning session, he told a fan to shut up before sticking his approach to four feet. That’s a moment that will go down in Ryder Cup folklore.
Despite his interactions with the crowd, Wagner was impressed by the grand slam winner’s restraint.
He said, “Poor Rory. And by the way, I can’t believe that he didn’t physically just kick the cr— out of some of those people.
“If he gets any blowback for saying the things that he said back to the crowd, I’m sorry. If you were walking out there for five hours for three straight days for five sessions of golf and had to hear what he had to hear for those three days. I’m actually impressed that it did not get worse.”
Sir Nick Faldo says Europe needed a ‘disgusting’ amount of patience
Ryder Cup legend Sir Nick Faldo gave some words of support to McIlroy and Team Europe after their Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black.
He posted to X, saying that the team needed a “disgusting amount of patience” to win the tournament.
Faldo said, “Congratulations to Team Europe on a historic win — that required skill, nerve, guts, determination, and a disgusting amount of patience!
“Captain Luke and his team deserve special praise for their outstanding preparation, which laid the groundwork for this success.
“And a heads-up for the US… this team will still be together at Adare Manor!”
During his Saturday fourball round, McIlroy faced relentless heckles on the green. He refused to hit one of his shots, saying to the referee on the green, “I’m not gonna putt until they shut up”.
He then stuck his long putt close. That’s an example of the patience and resilience shown by the now six-time Ryder Cup winner.
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