Ryder Cup heckle at Bethpage Black tests Europe, McIlroy laughs off taunt as crowd roars

A Ryder Cup fan drew attention for a risque heckle toward Rory McIlroy during Thursday's practice round at Bethpage Black in Long Island, as Team Europe prepared for the weekend.

The incident came amid growing talk about how much the home crowd could influence the event, with European stars such as Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick targeted in videos that have since gone viral. In the clip from the practice round, McIlroy was seen standing with his teammates when a fan with an American accent shouted a line aimed at his grip on the moment: 'You don't need a button to choke Rory!' McIlroy laughed along with the joke, the crowd, and his teammates. He was seen nodding and appearing to mouth, 'That's a good one.'

Luke Donald’s Team Europe has reportedly adopted an approach of establishing rapport with heckling fans and laughing along rather than retaliating, a tactic that mirrors the philosophy once espoused by Bernhard Langer at Oakland Hills in 2004. The idea is to defuse tension and keep the momentum on the course rather than inflame it, particularly in a home environment that could tilt the weekend in favor of the Americans.

Earlier in the week, Matt Fitzpatrick was targeted by spectators while grappling with short-game challenges on Bethpage Black. A viral clip from practice on Tuesday and Wednesday showed fans taunting him as he chipped and navigated from the rough, including lines like, 'Fitzy, what's going here brother' and 'The green's that way brother!' Fitzpatrick turned to the crowd with a smile after a failed attempt, a moment that underscored the event’s charged atmosphere.

Collin Morikawa, a Team USA star, weighed in on the mood around the crowd, saying he hoped the energy would escalate. 'I'll be honest, I think it's kind of tame so far, Tuesday and Wednesday. I know tomorrow is going to be pretty bad, but I hope Friday is just absolute chaos. I'm all for it. I think it feeds into who we are and the American players and the American team. We want it.' Morikawa's comments reflect a growing appetite among some U.S. players for a boisterous, competitive environment as the weekend approaches.

Despite the intensity from the galleries, the week’s events have highlighted a broader strategic shift within Team Europe: engagement over confrontation. The approach aims to channel crowd energy into a positive, competitive dynamic rather than fuel tensions on the course. As the Ryder Cup moves into its decisive rounds, players and captains on both sides will be watching how this atmosphere influences performance and team chemistry.

The road to the weekend promises continued scrutiny of the crowd’s role in the competition, with the potential for more interactions that blur the line between sport and theater. In that context, McIlroy’s ability to respond with humor and the European captaincy’s emphasis on controlled engagement may prove as telling as any shot on the course.