What Rory McIlroy and those around him had to deal with at the 2025 Ryder Cup was completely unacceptable, with the Northern Irishman the top target for the spectators who seemed determined to ruin the event.
No Ryder Cup has a bigger build-up than this year’s staging at Bethpage Black. Unfortunately, it will largely be remembered for the behaviour of sections of those behind the ropes.
Johnson Wagner said he was horrified by what McIlroy faced. Meanwhile, Tom Watson felt compelled to apologise to the European team after their victory after clearly being left appalled by what transpired.
Some other former American players have, however, taken the bizarre stance that Rory McIlroy is not blameless.
The ridiculous criticism Rory McIlroy is dealing with after the Ryder Cup
Speaking on Subpar in the hours after Europe’s win, Paul Azinger hit out at McIlroy for how he conducted himself in New York.
“Rory probably turned down $500 million not to go to LIV. He is a European and we see how much he wants to beat our Tour, but he stayed here and fought for us. He fought for the PGA Tour. So I love him for that. But today in the press conference, after it’s over, he is saying that I think golf should be held to a higher standard of decorum. But in the meantime he says f you, f you, f you in full voice for the world to see,” he said.
“He turns around and says to the guy shut the f up. The guy in the media asks him how did that feel Rory, to tell him to shut up and then hit it to two feet. And he said it felt pretty f’ing good.
“I’m like which is it Rory? Is it that golf is held to a higher standard or are you just going to f you the fans and act that like that’s okay?
“I love Rory, but you can’t say that. You can’t say the fans need to behave better and then in the meantime lay them to waste. You can’t do both. You have got to be one or the other.”
Interestingly, Chris DiMarco has since suggested to Beyond The Clubhouse that he was also not impressed by what McIlroy said.
“I wanted our fans to be unbelievably boisterous. I think they crossed the line a little bit and I think what Rory said, as hypocritical as it was, I think the fact that they were cheering more against Rory rather than for Scottie, I think that was the wrong push,” he said.
“When you take an elite athlete like Rory McIlroy and you p— him off enough to where he knows that his best revenge to you is to beat whoever he is playing in front of you, that is more motivation than anything in the world.
“I think it backfired on us and you have to tip your hats to them. Every time we made a putt and it seemed like our fans were going to go nuts they would make something and deflate us.”
Rory McIlroy deserves so much better after facing abuse even worse than what was heard at Brookline in 1999
You did not need to spend too long on social media during September’s event to find an example of McIlroy losing his cool with the crowd.
It was one of the most remarkable displays of resilience when he was forced to back off a shot on the 16th hole on Saturday morning after yet another heckle from the galleries.
McIlroy went on to hit a stunning approach which Tommy Fleetwood capitalised on to deliver another European point.
Admittedly, the five-time major champion would have probably been better off not swearing. If nothing else, it showed that the abuse was getting under his skin.
But if you listen to some former players, you would think that McIlroy arrived on the first tee on Friday morning with his middle finger showing to a grandstand which was politely applauding – before then complaining about the response.
McIlroy faced worse abuse than Colin Montgomerie at Brookline in 1999. His wife was hit by a beer launched from the crowd.
In truth, it is a wonder that McIlroy showed the restraint he did. His ability to still deliver 3.5 points is further proof that McIlroy is arguably the greatest golfer of his generation.
And he had every right to make sure that every single one of his critics knew who would be leaving the course with the trophy on Sunday night.
The fact that figures such as Azinger and DiMarco – who played in six Ryder Cups between them – have criticised McIlroy is incredibly unhelpful.
The 2025 Ryder Cup needs to be a turning point.
But having players such as Azinger and DiMarco put any blame on McIlroy suggests that many have learned nothing at all.
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