The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black has already cemented its place as one of the most contentious and emotionally charged tournaments in recent memory, and the final day hasn’t even begun. With Team Europe holding a commanding 11.5 to 4.5 lead over Team USA heading into Sunday’s singles, the drama on the course has been nearly matched by the chaos off it. From heated exchanges between players and caddies to an unprecedented resignation by the event’s first-tee emcee, the event’s intensity has spilled far beyond the fairways.
Saturday’s action started with fireworks and only escalated as the day unfolded. Tensions reached a boiling point during the afternoon fourball match between Team USA’s Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler and Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose. The spark? DeChambeau’s caddie, Greg Bodine, inadvertently stood in Justin Rose’s putting line on the 15th hole. Both players made par, but the incident triggered a heated verbal exchange as the group walked to the 16th tee. DeChambeau confronted Rose over his reprimand of Bodine, Fleetwood jumped in to defend his teammate, and even Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, found himself sparring with European vice captain Francesco Molinari. Despite the on-course friction, Rose and Fleetwood clinched the match on the next hole, and the parties managed a cordial handshake at the finish.
Afterward, Rose addressed the incident, expressing some regret about how things unfolded. “I said to them, ‘If I should have done it a different way, I apologize.’ But other than that, I had to step up and hit a huge putt with a lot going on,” Rose explained. “From my point of view, I was just trying to protect my own sort of environment to execute. It’s all part of it. It’s up to them if they want to take it the wrong way but from my point of view, there’s no malintent.” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley confirmed he spoke to all parties, declaring the dustup was in the past: “I mean, I think it was a little bit disrespectful, but Justin Rose told me after on the green that they had talked it out.”
Yet, the drama wasn’t limited to the players. The American crowd, estimated at over 50,000 strong, made its own headlines for raucous, sometimes vulgar, behavior. The most viral moment came when Heather McMahan, the official Ryder Cup emcee and first-tee announcer, led the crowd in a profane chant of “F--- you, Rory” directed at Team Europe’s Rory McIlroy. Video of the incident quickly spread across social media, sparking outrage from golf fans and commentators alike. The PGA of America swiftly confirmed McMahan’s resignation and her apology to both McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe. “Heather has extended an apology to Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe and has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup,” the official statement read.
McIlroy, meanwhile, endured relentless heckling and personal taunts from the New York gallery throughout Saturday. At several points, he refused to play until the crowd settled, famously snapping, “I won’t play until they shut up,” and at one tense moment, barking back, “Shut the f--- up,” before striking a crucial shot on the 16th hole. Despite the distractions, McIlroy was undeterred on the course, pairing with Tommy Fleetwood for a 3 & 2 victory over Collin Morikawa and Harris English in the morning session. The duo, affectionately dubbed “Fleetwood Mac,” extended their unbeaten record as a pairing in Ryder Cup foursomes. McIlroy finished Saturday with a 3-0-1 record in his four matches, a testament to his focus amid chaos.
But the hostility reached a new low during the four-ball session when McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, was struck by a drink thrown from the crowd. Video footage captured McIlroy rushing to her side, brushing liquid from her cap, and ensuring her well-being as security quickly intervened. Stoll, visibly shaken, left the match temporarily. The incident drew condemnation from across the sports world, with many on social media emphasizing that such behavior had crossed the line from passionate support to outright aggression. “These are real people with families. This crosses a line,” one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote.
Security was immediately ramped up around McIlroy and Stoll, with at least 20 police officers patrolling the area and two fans ejected for their behavior. Ryder Cup organizers issued repeated warnings about fan conduct, but many in the crowd responded with boos. The European team, led by captain Luke Donald, praised McIlroy’s poise and resilience as Europe built what became the largest lead in modern Ryder Cup history heading into Sunday’s singles matches.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton contributed to Europe’s dominance, notching a 3 & 2 foursomes win over Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. Rahm, who has remained unbeaten in Ryder Cup foursomes, delivered a spectacular birdie on the 8th hole that drew both gasps and cheers from the crowd. Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland capped the morning session with a 1-up win over Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, further cementing Europe’s grip on the Cup.
Despite the off-course controversies, the golf itself has been high quality and fiercely contested. The Americans found some success early Saturday, with Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young defeating Europe’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Åberg, 4 & 2, but that would be their only win of the morning. Europe became the first visiting side in 46 years to win the opening three sessions of a Ryder Cup, needing just 2.5 points on Sunday to clinch the trophy. Should the match end in a 14-14 tie, Europe would retain the Cup as defending champions.
For McIlroy, the weekend has been a rollercoaster of emotion. He and Stoll, who share a daughter and reconciled their marriage in 2024, were seen leaving hand in hand after the day’s events. The Northern Irishman reflected on the atmosphere, telling NBC, “When you play away Ryder Cup, it’s really, really challenging. You know, it’s not for me to say. People can be their own judge of whether they took it too far or not. You know, I’m just proud of us for being able to win today with what we had to go through.”
As the final round of the Ryder Cup looms, scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, all eyes are on whether Team Europe can finish the job and claim victory on American soil for the first time since 2012. But no matter the result, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black will be remembered as much for its off-course drama as for its golf. In a week where the line between sporting passion and unacceptable behavior was repeatedly tested, the world of golf is left to reflect on where that line should be drawn.
