The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York has erupted into one of the most contentious and emotionally charged tournaments in recent memory, with Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry at the center of a swirling storm of crowd hostility, state trooper interventions, and relentless heckling. What began as a showcase for elite golf has, over two days, transformed into a spectacle marked by vitriol from the stands, heated on-course exchanges, and unprecedented security measures—underscoring the intensity of this storied transatlantic rivalry.
On September 27, as the second day of the three-day contest unfolded, the atmosphere at Bethpage Black reached a fever pitch. State troopers lined the ropes around McIlroy and Lowry, a visible response to escalating tensions between the players and the partisan American crowd. Fans were being ejected with increasing frequency as the Irishmen, paired together for the second consecutive day, found themselves the targets of some of the most extreme heckling seen in Ryder Cup history.
The abuse was not just persistent—it was personal. According to Oliver Holt of The Daily Mail, the treatment of McIlroy crossed a line, taking on a "vicious, personal, thuggish edge." Sky Sports echoed this sentiment, reporting, "The crowd is the other big talking point at the moment…and it is getting pretty nasty. It was quite nasty last night in that final match with Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy. Some fairly pointed comments, some expletive-laden abuse hurled at both of them, as well. And it was boiling over this morning, as well."
The flashpoint came during Saturday morning’s session. As McIlroy prepared to take a shot, he was bombarded by jeers and taunts. Caught on a hot mic, McIlroy snapped, shouting, "Guys! Shut the fuck up!" The outburst drew a chorus of boos from the crowd, but McIlroy responded in the best way possible—by stuffing his next shot to within two feet of the hole, a moment that underscored his resilience under pressure. As one Sky Sports commentator put it, "That just goes to show you, don’t wind up Rory McIlroy because he can probably make you regret those words."
Shane Lowry, too, found himself in the crosshairs. The Offaly man was repeatedly subjected to weight jokes, family insults, and general cries of "You suck" from the gallery. After holing a spectacular eagle putt on the fourth hole, Lowry turned to a heckler and, in a moment captured by microphones and social media alike, exclaimed, "Yeah! Come on! Fuck you!" His fired-up reaction was a direct response to the abuse being hurled at McIlroy moments earlier, which had been so severe that McIlroy was forced to pause his preparation for a putt.
The situation continued to deteriorate as the day wore on. State troopers were called to the 10th tee to restore order after Lowry pointed out another fan for derogatory comments, leading to that individual’s ejection. Oliver Holt later reported that police dogs had been stationed by the 14th green, a striking illustration of just how tense the environment had become. According to Jamie Weir of Sky Sports, Lowry had successfully requested the removal of multiple fans for abusive behavior as the round progressed.
The PGA attempted to intervene by flashing "Spectator Etiquette" warnings on the big screens around the course. Instead of calming the crowd, these messages were met with loud boos, further fueling the antagonistic atmosphere. The relentless heckling even forced Lowry’s caddie to physically restrain him from confronting a particularly abusive patron, after which another ejection followed.
Social media lit up with videos and commentary as the drama unfolded. Joel Beall of Golf Digest, who walked with the group for two hours, remarked, "I've never heard so many Fuck Yous to anyone, let alone a golfer as they're about to pull the trigger. Things about wife/family, Pinehurst, general 'You Suck' comments. Shane getting bombarded with weight jokes." These observations were corroborated by numerous reporters on the ground, all of whom expressed disbelief at the classless antics of large sections of the American crowd.
Despite the hostile environment, McIlroy and Lowry’s performance on the course remained impressively steady. Both players managed to keep their composure and deliver under pressure, a testament to their mental toughness and focus. The European team, meanwhile, surged to a commanding and historic lead through the second day, a development that only seemed to stoke the crowd’s frustration and further intensify the heckling directed at the Irish pair.
The backdrop to these events is the ongoing narrative of US-European rivalry in the Ryder Cup—a competition that has always thrived on passion and partisanship but rarely seen the kind of security measures and personal abuse witnessed at Bethpage Black. The memory of the previous Ryder Cup in Rome, where American players were reportedly treated harshly by European fans, has loomed large in the discourse, with both sides accusing the other of crossing the line between spirited support and outright hostility.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue, President Donald Trump attended the tournament on Friday, September 26, accompanied by his granddaughter Kai Trump, a nationally-ranked golfer. While European captain Justin Rose was asked about the possibility of Trump celebrating with the European team should they win, it remains unclear if the former president will return for the final day’s play. With Europe holding a strong advantage, the possibility of a high-profile celebration or confrontation hangs in the air.
The Ryder Cup’s reputation for rowdy crowds and intense patriotism has always been part of its charm, but the events at Bethpage Black have prompted a broader conversation about the boundaries of fan behavior. While trash talk and home-field advantage are expected, the personal nature of the abuse—especially when it touches on family or physical appearance—has been widely condemned by players, commentators, and fans alike. As one commentator noted, "The only rule of trash talk is that you don’t bring up family. That’s it. Off-limits. Everyone knows it. Beyond that it’s fair game."
As the final day of the Ryder Cup approaches, all eyes remain fixed on McIlroy, Lowry, and the European team. Will the crowd’s antagonism continue to escalate, or will the spectacle on the course reclaim center stage? One thing is certain: the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black will be remembered as much for its off-course drama as for the world-class golf on display. With state troopers, police dogs, and ejections dominating the headlines, the tournament has set a new standard for intensity—and controversy—in one of sport’s greatest rivalries.
For now, the action remains ongoing, the outcome undecided, and the story of this Ryder Cup far from over. The world watches, waiting to see how both the players and the crowd respond as the stakes reach their highest point.
