Matt Fitzpatrick and his European Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose were genuinely baffled by something that happened during the Ryder Cup trophy presentation ceremony last week.
Fitzpatrick was truly sensational for Team Europe at Bethpage Black, as was his experienced Ryder Cup teammate, Rose.
However, the two Englishman and all of their teammates had to put up with torrents of abuse aimed at them from some American fans.
Don Rea, the PGA of America President seemingly played down fan behavior at the Ryder Cup, likening what happened to the goings on in Rome two years ago.
However, many believe he failed to read the room as he seemingly made light of the incidents that occurred on Long Island.
Rea said: “Well, you have 50,000 people there that are really excited and – heck – you can go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things.
“It happened when we were in Rome on the other side and Rory understands… things like that are going to happen and I don’t know what was said. But all I know is golf the engine of good.”
That was really poor from Rea, considering some of the nasty abuse hurled at the European Ryder Cup players.
And now Fitzpatrick has commented on that apology, as well as something else that happened during the trophy presentation which was truly bizarre.
Matt Fitzpatrick says what shocked him and Justin Rose at the Ryder Cup
Rea’s so-called ‘apology’ was a strange one.
It seemed as though he failed to grasp the extent of the abuse that was hurled at the European players at Bethpage last week.
When speaking to reporters in Scotland on Wednesday, Fitzpatrick replied when asked whether Rea’s apology was sufficient.
He said: “I mean, yeah, I guess they are apologizing on behalf of the fans. Like I say, I saw those comments about the — I saw the interview with the PGA guy discussing about it was the same in Rome. It’s pretty offensive to European fans the fact that he said that, really.
“You know, I don’t want to speak on behalf of everyone but we did feel there was a little bit of bitterness when we got to the — when they presented the trophy there and shook their hands. I think it was — they can’t control what comes out of everyone’s mouth, there’s no doubt about it.
“I wouldn’t say we were looking for an apology but I would say it’s understandable that they would apologize. I’ve had a number of friends who are American send messages, texts, all sorts, apologizing for the fans and saying really sorry that you had to deal with that stuff.
“But we knew what we were going to deal with going in. Luke and the team did such an amazing job with that; you over prepare so that actually when you get there, we expected this, anyway. So it wasn’t an issue.“
He was then asked to clarify what he meant by his ‘bitterness’ comments, and Fitzpatrick explained that the CEO of the PGA of America, Derek Sprague, said something that genuinely shocked him and Rose, while overseeing proceedings at the Ryder Cup trophy presentation at Bethpage.
The 31-year-old Englishman said: “Well, the CEO of The PGA of America obviously. Me and Rosey both looked at each other as if to say, that wasn’t a very heartfelt congratulations, I know that. And he said we only retained it but actually we won it, so….“
Matt Fitzpatrick sends European fans message ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup
The 2025 Ryder Cup has only just finished but all eyes are already on the 46th edition of the competition at Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027.
And there will now be real pressure on the European fans not to act like certain sections of the American crowds at Bethpage last week.
Fitzpatrick was asked if he has a message for the European fans ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup.
He said: “I mean, in my opinion, by Saturday afternoon, it was one of the best things I’ve seen in my entire life, the chanting, the cheering, the songs. Like that, to me, is what makes European fans so great versus American fans. Not to say All-American fans are giving the abuse because they are not. It’s only a small few.
“But to me that’s what makes the European fans so good is the creativeness, the chants, not the — just shouting random obscenities. That’s the best bit for me that I heard all week was “Is this a library” chant; “Is there a fire drill” chant. They all come from football, and that’s what makes them so funny and so creative.
“For me, just more of that. It’s not really — it’s not nasty. It’s not personal. Obviously in Rome there was the whole incident — it was a creative chant, it was hilarious and that to me is what makes the European fans so great and that’s what makes the atmosphere so good. I don’t have any worries about European fans. What the The PGA of America guy said about it was the same in Rome, he clearly wasn’t there. I guess he wasn’t there or he must have been listening to something else because it was just never the case that it was anything like that. It’s always been playful and just banter, really.“
It’s time for golf fans of all nations to come together and ensure that we don’t see a repeat of the events we witnessed at Bethpage Black last week.
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