The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York was always going to be a fierce contest, but few could have predicted just how much off-course drama would overshadow Europe’s historic win. While Team Europe clinched a hard-fought 15-13 victory over the United States, the story that’s lingered in the headlines is the abuse directed at Rory McIlroy—and the fiery debate it’s sparked among sports legends and fans alike.
Rory McIlroy, now 36 and already one of Europe’s most decorated Ryder Cup players, found himself at the center of a storm both on and off the fairways. Throughout the three-day event, McIlroy was subjected to relentless heckling from the American crowd. The abuse escalated beyond mere words: his wife Erica Stoll was struck by a drink thrown from the gallery during the Saturday fourballs, and McIlroy himself faced homophobic slurs. The situation became so heated that McIlroy asked security to eject several unruly fans and, after the competition, was seen swearing at the crowd—a moment that drew both sympathy and criticism in equal measure.
The PGA of America, recognizing the gravity of the incidents, issued a formal apology for the crowd’s behavior. But the fallout didn’t end there. The actions of Heather McMahan, a comedian hired to entertain fans on the first tee, came under particular scrutiny after she encouraged a chant of “F*** you Rory!”—a move many felt crossed the line from good-natured rivalry into outright hostility. Legendary golfer Gary Player was among the most vocal critics, telling The Palm Beach Post, “I look at it and I’m in a state of shock. I think, what would Ben Hogan have said, you know? What would Byron Nelson have said? What would Arnold Palmer, if Arnold Palmer saw that today. I was disgusted… So to me, the Ryder Cup is a shambles.”
Player didn’t stop there, lambasting the PGA of America’s handling of the event and calling the Ryder Cup “the worst event in the world.” His remarks echoed the sentiments of other golfing greats, including former U.S. captain Tom Watson, who tweeted, “I’d like to congratulate @RyderCupEurope on their victory. Your team play the first few days was sensational. More importantly, I’d like to apologize for the rude and mean-spirited behavior from our American crowd at Bethpage. As a former player, Captain and as an American, I am ashamed of what happened.”
Yet not everyone in the sporting world has been so sympathetic to McIlroy’s plight. Enter Roy Keane, former Manchester United captain and notorious for his no-nonsense approach to both football and life. On the Stick to Football podcast, Keane made it clear he had little patience for what he saw as McIlroy’s overreaction. “So, you tell me. I’m no expert in golf – I don’t play but I watch the sport — you’re saying there’s pressure on these players because some people were shouting?” Keane quipped. “Become a footballer and go to Leeds or Anfield on a Tuesday night, let me tell you. These guys play in big tournaments every week. All of a sudden, they’re going to be upset by a few Yanks? You’ve got McIlroy; McIlroy’s won all the big prizes. Do you think he’s going to be upset by a few people? It’s ridiculous.”
Keane further argued that the European team should have seen it coming. “Of course they [knew],” he said. “They’ve built it up for the last six months [saying] ‘wait til you come to America.’ Of course they knew they were going to get abused.” For Keane, who’s endured the infamous “prawn sandwich brigade” and the pressures of top-flight football, the notion that golf’s elite could be rattled by rowdy fans seemed laughable.
The tension between Keane and McIlroy isn’t entirely new. On a lighter note, McIlroy, a lifelong Manchester United supporter, once recounted being snubbed by Keane for an autograph as a child. “I saw one of my Man United legends in the lobby and asked him for an autograph. He looks over and goes ‘not today, kid.’ I was like ‘Okay…’” McIlroy recalled on the podcast. Keane, for his part, admitted, “The only thing I remember about that hotel was that there was always kids around annoying the players and I was probably thinking ‘here’s another one.’ I’m still going to fight my corner over this. It depends on the timing, if you’re in the zone or where you are mentally. I feel bad, if that is 100% true. I wouldn’t just snub a little kid.” Thankfully, the pair have since patched things up, with McIlroy joking, “It’s fine, I’ve gotten over it. We’ve made up now, and we’re best of friends.”
Despite the controversy, McIlroy’s star continues to rise. With six Ryder Cup victories and 21.5 points to his name—making him the seventh-highest scorer in the event’s history and the only active player in the all-time top 10—his influence on European golf is indisputable. Many have tipped him as a future European captain, especially with the next Ryder Cup set for Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027. However, McIlroy was quick to quash rumors of an imminent captaincy during his pre-tournament press conference for the DP World India Championship. “Sometime, yes. Certainly not 2027,” he said. “I hope I’m still playing at that point. But yeah, I would love to be the European Team Captain at some point. But that will be beyond my playing days, or at least when my playing days are coming to an end, and I’m not good enough to make the team, or I make way for the new generation to come along. Hopefully that’s not in 2027. Hopefully, I’m still good enough to play and put points on the board for Europe.”
McIlroy also expressed deep admiration for the captains he’s played under, highlighting recent skipper Luke Donald and 2014 leader Paul McGinley as major influences. “I would love to be a captain one day,” McIlroy added, “and I feel very fortunate that I’ve had a front-row seat playing under some of the best captains in history in the Ryder Cup. I think what Luke Donald has done the last two Ryder Cups has revolutionized the captaincy within Europe. And I feel like Paul McGinley in Gleneagles in 2014, he was a wonderful captain, and I learned a lot from him. And there’s been wonderful captains between them, as well. All of them have been wonderful.”
As the dust settles on Bethpage Black, the debate rages on: Should professional golfers expect to endure the same level of abuse as footballers, or does the sport’s tradition of decorum demand a different standard? One thing’s for sure—Rory McIlroy remains at the heart of European golf, undeterred by the noise, and focused on what he does best: winning for Europe, with his sights set on future Ryder Cup glories.
