Rory McIlroy predicts inevitable Ryder Cup drama at Bethpage as Europe WAGs warned to stay away

Rory McIlroy says the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black will be combustible, predicting a week of drama not unlike the contentious moments that surfaced in Rome two years ago. The Northern Irishman, who helped lead Europe to victory in 2023, spoke ahead of the event and cautioned that while the clash in New York will not be scripted, tensions are a predictable byproduct of the high-stakes, five- to six-day schedule. McIlroy told The Guardian that even if the incident does not involve him personally, it is almost certain that some moment will test the players and their camaraderie.

"I think it's inevitable something is going to happen in New York," he said, describing the extended buildup and the crowd's sustained engagement over long days on the course. "It might not involve me but it is inevitable that something will happen, whether like in Rome last time or something else. I just think when you go into that environment and you are there for five or six days and the crowd are on you for eight hours, so many days in a row … it is inevitable it will get to someone or get to us as a group at some point. We are just going to have to do a really good job of managing that, having each other's backs and protecting each other."

The Europe captain Luke Donaldwill guide a lineup seeking to retain the Ryder Cup against Keegan Bradley’s Team USA in the Big Apple, where New York fans are known for their vocal and boisterous enthusiasm. Ahead of the matches, McIlroy’s remarks underscore how the environment could amplify existing rivalries, even as players try to keep focus on golf.

The looming tension has also prompted a warning to Europe’s wives and girlfriends, who have traditionally stood close to the action but could face an unpredictable reception from the home crowds. Former European star Andrew Coltart recollected his own experiences from the 1999 Ryder Cup and stressed the importance of safety alongside support. Coltart recalled that while his wife escaped abuse because she was home with the couple’s newborn, other WAGs were subjected to derogatory taunts from the crowd. He suggested that some may consider watching from a secure room to avoid potential abuse, arguing that the atmosphere could be markedly unfamiliar for those on the receiving end of the crowd’s ire.

The warnings come as the memory of the Rome showdown lingers in players’ minds. In the 2023 clash at Marco Simone, tensions erupted on the second day after Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, celebrated in front of McIlroy as he prepared for a decisive putt to save the final match. The confrontation spilled into the car park, where a visibly irate McIlroy can be heard on video shouting, with a security guard stepping in as teammate Shane Lowry and others tried to de-escalate the moment. The quarrel carried into the tunnel toward the clubhouse, and Lowry guided a still-seething McIlroy to a waiting vehicle as the scene cooled.

Cantlay had just sunk a 30-foot birdie to swing the match in the Americans’ favor against McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick, and the moment—accentuated by LaCava’s celebration—sparked a broader exchange that persisted off the course. Justin Rose, who had joined McIlroy and Lowry to watch the action, was among those who confronted LaCava, while the incident drew security attention before calmer heads prevailed. The episode colored the afterglow of Europe’s victory and framed the expectations for Bethpage, where crowd energy and a potential repeat of the Rome drama could challenge players’ composure throughout the week.