The 2025 Ryder Cup will be remembered by golf fans for many years to come, though, unfortunately, one of the reasons why will be the vicious abuse taken by the European team from the partisan Bethpage crowd.
Fears were high ahead of the event in New York that a hostile reception was waiting for Team Europe, but the level of vitriol may have surpassed even their worst expectations.
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Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy were particularly targeted, with things coming to a head during the Saturday afternoon session. McIlroy at one stage refused to putt until the crowd settled down, while police were called in for protection after his wife was struck by a drink thrown from the crowd.
One of the most infuriating aspects of the abuse for the European team was the seemingly disinterested reaction from many on the American side.
Even after footage emerged of an employee leading chants of “Fuck You Rory,” the PGA were slow to make any kind of apology towards McIlroy, Lowry, or the European team.
Now, Collin Morikawa has deflected blame after his pre-tournament encouragement to the US fans to cause “chaos.”
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Collin Morikawa deflects blame for brutal Ryder Cup abuse
27 September 2025; Collin Morikawa of USA and Rory McIlroy of Europe after the morning foursomes on day two of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York, USA. Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile
The 2025 Ryder Cup was one to forget for Collin Morikawa, who picked up just half a point from his three matches.
However, it was a different aspect of his involvement that was under scrutiny ahead of his return to action at this weekend’s Baycurrent Classic in Yokohama.
Morikawa had spoken out ahead of the Ryder Cup, saying he hoped the first day of the tournament would be “absolute chaos” in the stands, as the Americans enjoyed home advantage.
The two-time Major champion rowed back on his remarks on Wednesday, saying he did not think he should be associated with the hugely disappointing scenes that transpired over the weekend.
“I think we’ve taken what I said a little out of context,” Morikawa said.
I think Ryder Cups are meant to have a lot of energy, right, and I think me saying the word “chaos”, I didn’t mean for them to be rude, right?
That’s not on me, I believe, for me to take credit for people being rude. I think what I meant was like I wanted energy, right?
You wanted people to be proud of the country, the countries they’re rooting for.
I don’t think me saying one word, everyone listened – I don’t think I have the power to do that amongst people.
I think fans can do and say what they want sometimes. It probably crossed a line out there so I would say there’s a line that needs to be drawn.
But what’s so different and unique about golf is that we hear nearly everything what people say because people have access to be so close to us. I think you have to learn how to find that division of what’s appropriate and what’s not.
Though he admitted that the antics of the American fans “crossed a line,” Morikawa’s deflection of blame doesn’t exactly read as the strongest condemnation of what transpired at the Ryder Cup.
Morikawa was part of one of the most scrutinised pairs of the weekend, playing alongside Harris English in both morning foursomes sessions.
The duo was ranked as the most unlikely pairing of all 132 possible combinations on the American team, and Keegan Bradley came under scrutiny for putting out the same pair two mornings in a row.
Ultimately, they would lose to the electric European duo of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood on both occasions, 5&4 on Friday morning, and 3&2 on Saturday morning.
It was during that Saturday morning session that the first major flashpoint between McIlroy and the American fans transpired, with Morikawa offered a front-row seat.
The fallout from the Ryder Cup debacle does not look set to end any time soon.
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