McIlroy tells Ryder Cup fans to 'shut the f*** up' in on-course outburst at Bethpage
Tension rises on Day 2 as Europe builds its lead amid jeers from the American crowd at Bethpage Black; McIlroy had earlier flashed a middle finger and later blew a kiss in a day marked by high emotions.
Rory McIlroy confronted a noisy row of American Ryder Cup fans on Saturday at Bethpage Black, telling them to “shut the f*** up” as he prepared to hit a shot on the 16th fairway. The moment came as several U.S. supporters in the main grandstand were audible with taunts, including a shout of “freedom” from the crowd, and disrupted what had begun as a routine sequence for the European team.
The incident unfolded as McIlroy stepped away from the ball to regroup, with the interruption drawing jeers from sections of the crowd. The moment underscored a tournament atmosphere that has been charged from the outset, and it arrived on the same day that his wife, Erica Stoll, was in attendance to watch the action in New York.
Earlier on Saturday, McIlroy had attempted a friendlier approach with the gallery, blowing a kiss after an earlier exchange that included a moment in which he reportedly flashed his middle finger the day before. On Friday, he and Shane Lowry were heckled throughout their opening-day match, and the crowd’s chants continued to race along the fairways as Europe pressed its advantage.
The Saturday skirmish came after a loud chorus of “F*** you, Rory” greeted his introduction for a Friday foursomes match with Tommy Fleetwood. McIlroy’s response on the 16th appeared to reflect a broader mood among European players who have faced a highly animated USA crowd in the tournament’s first two days. After the incident, he and Lowry moved on to a point-earning sequence against Morikawa and English, with Europe maintaining a substantial lead in the early stages of the day.
Two years earlier, the Ryder Cup in Rome also featured a tense exchange between McIlroy and Joe LaCava, Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, which spilled into the car park and became a talking point in security circles. McIlroy was seen at various moments during that 2023 campaign visibly heated, including moments when Lowry intervened to help defuse the tension. Fred Couples later recalled on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio that LaCava had told McIlroy to relax, a friction that has colored McIlroy’s Ryder Cup experiences in recent seasons.
The atmosphere around Bethpage Black intensified on Friday as President Donald Trump arrived with his granddaughter Kai to observe the competition. Trump’s presence added a political undertone to an event that often thrives on fierce rivalries and national pride. Some players and supporters warned that the crowd’s energy could influence play, while others emphasized that the Ryder Cup’s emotional undercurrents are part of the format’s tradition.
On the course, Europe has shown resilience. McIlroy and Fleetwood opened with a win in their first foursomes, defeating Col in Morikawa and Harris English, before teaming with Lowry to halve a four-ball clash against Burns and Cantlay. The day’s results left Team Europe holding a confirmable lead, with a 7.5 to 3.5 edge reported at a key point in the schedule.
McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, was among the supporters in attendance on Friday and Saturday, joining other Ryder Cup spouses in blue blazers and coordinated outfits that echoed the event’s pageantry. The Ryder Cup has a long history of intense crowds and dramatic moments, and this edition has continued that tradition with a mix of celebratory and confrontational moments that have defined the opening days.
As play continued, officials and players stressed the need to maintain decorum, while acknowledging that the Ryder Cup’s energy can be a double-edged sword for competitors who thrive on a hostile environment or who struggle to ignore it. The European team has sought to capitalize on the momentum built by the early rounds and the crowd’s intensity, while the American contingent has aimed to reverse the momentum as the weekend progresses.
The incident on the 16th hole remained a talking point as the day wore on, illustrating how quickly a moment of frustration can become part of the narrative of a Ryder Cup that is already loaded with tension and high stakes. With the European squad holding a growing lead and McIlroy back into his match rhythm, the event moved toward a critical stretch that could shape the rest of the weekend’s results.
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