Rory McIlroy scolds Ryder Cup fans as Europe presses lead at Bethpage Black

Rory McIlroy told fans to quiet down on Saturday at Bethpage Black after they began shouting while he prepared to hit from the 16th fairway, saying, "Shut the f--k up." The moment underscored a tense atmosphere as Europe pressed toward an away Ryder Cup victory on Long Island. Through the first day and a half of play, Europe had looked to be on track to win away for the first time since Medinah in 2012.

McIlroy paused his shot, stepped away from the ball, and drew boos; later at a news conference he explained that taunts are part of an away Ryder Cup, but players deserve a chance to hit their shots. "Look, in between shots, say whatever you want to me. That’s totally fine. But just let us — you gave us the respect to let us hit shots and give us the same chance that the Americans have, I guess," he said, adding that the banter is expected but "that’s what an away Ryder Cup is."

McIlroy won both his matches on Friday, and on Saturday morning he halved his Four-Ball match with Shane Lowry against Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns. The early results reflected a European surge on the home course, with fans in the main stands and around the ropes providing persistent encouragement as the afternoon sessions loomed.

Fans had chanted "F--k you, Rory" at points during Friday’s play, and McIlroy responded with a friendlier gesture on Day 1 by blowing a kiss to the crowd in the main stands before focusing on the task at hand.

As play continued, Europe held a commanding position on the leaderboard, leaving open questions about whether the home team could rally and shift momentum. A European victory away from home would mark a significant milestone, reversing years of home-team advantage and giving Europe a strong foothold heading into the weekend. The Ryder Cup schedule in the coming sessions will determine whether the crowd noise continues to tilt in favor of the visitors or if the hosts find a way to narrow the deficit.