The echoes of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black are still reverberating through the golf world, but this time the focus isn’t on the final score. Instead, it’s the conduct of fans and the soul of the sport that have taken center stage. With the European team clinching a hard-fought 15-13 victory over the United States, the event was marred by a string of unsavory incidents—none more talked about than the abuse directed at Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, and the shocking moment when a drink was thrown at McIlroy’s wife.
In the aftermath, McIlroy was quick to speak out, making headlines with his impassioned plea: “I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf. I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.” His words struck a chord, not just with fans but with the game’s most influential leaders.
At the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, the conversation picked up steam once more. Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley and R&A chief executive Mark Darbon—two of the sport’s most respected custodians—publicly echoed McIlroy’s call for action. For both men, the events at Bethpage served as a stark reminder of golf’s unique place in the sporting landscape and the responsibilities that come with it.
“I don’t think that anyone was particularly happy with what happened this year,” Ridley told Golf Digest. “I think it just reminds us, as custodians of the game, the responsibility that we have to perpetuate its underlying values. And I think hopefully that this is something we’re going to focus on more, and because that’s part of what makes golf special is that it is a different sort of set of rules, if you will. It’s something I think we need to work on, and it’s something I think I hope everyone involved with the game will reflect on.”
Ridley’s comments underscore the growing concern among golf’s leadership that the game’s cherished traditions—decorum, respect, and sportsmanship—are being tested as the sport’s profile rises. The Ryder Cup, once a genteel contest, has become a cauldron of passion and rivalry, drawing in massive crowds and, at times, rowdy behavior more commonly associated with football or basketball arenas. The 2025 edition at Bethpage Black was a case in point, with the crowd’s intensity spilling over into hostility and, in some moments, outright disrespect.
Mark Darbon, relatively new to the golf world but a veteran of international sports administration, offered his own perspective. “I think first and foremost, you want and need passion,” Darbon said. “There are very few sports that succeed anywhere around the world without a strong following and passionate supporters. But one of the things that defines golf, and I’ve worked in a number of sports and I’m new to this industry, one of the things that struck me in my first 10 or 11 months, is there’s real strength in the values of the game. They are so critical. They are a highly differentiating factor for us versus other sports, and they provide us with something many other sports would crave. Without them, it will become much harder to grow this game. Collaborations between organisations like Augusta National Golf Club and the R&A and brilliant federations all around the world are so critical to underpin and elevate those values.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates with many in the sport. As golf’s global appeal has grown, so too has the challenge of maintaining its unique culture. The Ryder Cup’s transformation over the past three decades—from a relatively subdued affair to one of the most competitive and emotionally charged events in sport—has brought both benefits and new problems. The increased public interest has been a boon, but it’s also invited a level of fandom that sometimes crosses the line.
For McIlroy, the experience at Bethpage Black was both motivating and sobering. The abuse he and his teammates endured did not go unnoticed, and the viral footage of his wife being targeted by a drink-throwing spectator only deepened the sense of alarm. The reaction from the wider golf community was swift, with legends like Tom Watson and Gary Player joining the chorus of disapproval. The consensus is clear: golf cannot—and should not—allow itself to be dragged down by the kind of behavior that too often plagues other sports.
But how does the sport move forward? Ridley and Darbon both point to collaboration and a renewed commitment to golf’s core values. It’s not about stifling passion or sanitizing the atmosphere, but rather about striking the right balance between enthusiasm and respect. The Masters, for example, has long been celebrated for its elevated decorum and tradition, serving as a model for other tournaments worldwide. The hope is that by doubling down on these standards, the sport can continue to grow without sacrificing what makes it special.
Meanwhile, the world of professional golf marches on. At the same Asia-Pacific Amateur in Dubai, the next generation of talent was on display, even as the sport’s leaders grappled with the big-picture issues. On the Ladies European Tour, Kildare’s Lauren Walsh was tied for the lead at the Wistrom Ladies Open in Taiwan before play was suspended due to flooding—a reminder that, for all the off-course drama, the game itself continues to produce compelling stories. In Korea, the DP World Tour’s Genesis Championship saw an eight-way tie for the halfway lead, with local hero Sungjae Im among those in contention. For players like Daniel Hillier and Haotong Li, there’s more than just a trophy at stake, with PGA Tour cards and Race to Dubai rankings hanging in the balance. Adam Scott, a familiar name to golf fans, managed to make the cut with a 67, keeping his hopes alive for another season on tour.
It’s an exciting time for golf, but also a pivotal one. The events at Bethpage Black have sparked a necessary conversation about the sport’s future and the standards it must uphold. As Ridley, Darbon, and McIlroy have made clear, the responsibility rests with everyone involved—from players and officials to fans in the galleries. The Ryder Cup may be over, but the debate it ignited is far from settled. As the golf world reflects and looks ahead, the hope is that the game’s enduring values will shine brighter than ever, setting a standard not just for golf, but for all of sport.
