McIlroy swears at rowdy US fans in Ryder Cup, sparks tense moment at Bethpage

Rory McIlroy swore at American fans during Saturday's Ryder Cup foursomes at Bethpage Black after being heckled while lining up an approach to the 16th green, where a spectator shouted 'freedom'. The Northern Irishman had earlier responded to abuse on the first tee by blowing kisses toward the crowd, then paused over the ball and muttered 'Guys, shut the **** up.' He followed with a precise iron from the rough to within three feet, setting up a 3-and-2 victory for Europe alongside Tommy Fleetwood over Harris English and Collin Morikawa. McIlroy and Fleetwood’s win helped Europe seize an 8½-3½ lead heading into the second half of the day’s play.

Asked afterward about the exchange, McIlroy insisted that crowd taunts are part of an away Ryder Cup but that players should have space to execute shots. 'I don’t mind them having a go at us. That’s to be expected. That’s what an away Ryder Cup is. Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing. In between shots, say whatever you want to me. That’s totally fine. But just give us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have.'

The moment on the 16th was followed by a lighter exchange on the same hole when a spectator asked, 'How you liking Long Island Rory, thumbs up or down?' McIlroy flashed a smile and gave a raised thumb before continuing his round.

Europe’s momentum from the morning session carried into the afternoon fourball, where McIlroy partnered Shane Lowry. McIlroy backed off a putt after a catcall from the crowd and consulted a rules official about whether anything could be done to quiet the shouting while he remained over the ball. Lowry, undeterred, converted a hole-winning eagle putt and celebrated with animated gestures near the spot where the earlier taunts had arisen, underscoring the event’s combustible atmosphere.

McIlroy has been frank about his past experiences in Ryder Cups where crowd behavior has influenced his play. He has acknowledged that too much engagement with hostile fans at Hazeltine in 2016 hampered his performance in a lopsided loss, while expressing the belief that he learned to react differently in subsequent events, including the Whistling Straits edition four years later. Still, Bethpage has produced its own taunting episodes, with McIlroy, Ireland’s Lowry and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre among those targeted in the first two days. The Ryder Cup this year remains less hostile than the infamous 1999 Brookline scene, but the energy in the stands is unmistakably intense.

In the broader context of Ryder Cup economics and spectacle, Bethpage has drawn sizable crowds and correspondingly steep prices. Tickets for the three days of competition start at about $750 per person, reflecting a largely corporate audience that some observers say has altered the tournament’s typical “bear pit” feel. Europe’s strong showing thus far has tempered some of the anticipated home-field pressure, even as narratives about crowd behavior persist.

Commenting on the atmosphere, Dame Laura Davies, speaking on Sky Sports, noted that captain Luke Donald had warned spectators about expectations and that the European team has delivered performance that reduces provocation. 'Luke [Donald] told them what was coming, but because of how they have played, they have not had to put up with much. What Rory did, using a bit of bad language, got his message across and if they are sensible they [the home fans] won't try and provoke the European players,' Davies said.

As the event moves into Sunday, the U.S. and Europe will continue to navigate not only on-course strategic battles but also the charged dynamic between players and a crowd that is simultaneously supportive and antagonistic. From McIlroy’s sharp retort to Lowry’s emphatic eagle to the broader protests and defenses of players’ composure, the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is shaping up as a test of temperament as much as a test of golf. The implications extend beyond a single match result, touching on how players, captains, and organizers balance competitive urgency with the heat of the moment in a high-stakes team competition.