{"id":222754,"date":"2025-10-18T12:54:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T12:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/222754\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T12:54:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T12:54:16","slug":"premier-league-legend-tears-into-rory-mcilroy-over-ryder-cup-behaviour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/222754\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier League legend tears into Rory McIlroy over Ryder Cup behaviour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has said it was “ridiculous” Rory McIlroy<\/a> and his European teammates got so upset after being on the receiving end of abuse at the Ryder Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Luke Donald’s Europe dominated the first two days of the biennial contest at Bethpage Black in New York last month despite having to endure an increasingly volatile crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A particular low point came when McIlroy and his good friend Shane Lowry<\/a> battled Justin Thomas and Cameron Young in the Saturday afternoon fourballs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

McIlroy and Lowry held on to secure a point but they did so amid ugly scenes, with the former being subjected to a barrage of abuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Extra state troopers and police dogs were also called in and even the US golfers attempted to calm the crowd down.<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

The European team expected the abuse and even prepared for the 45th edition of the Cup by using virtual reality headsets to simulate the barbs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But what transpired has continued to be huge talking point, with multiple high-profile current and former golfers weighing in on the topic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nine-time major champion Gary Player was the latest to offer his two cents<\/a>, describing the Ryder Cup as a “shambles” that has now become “the worst event in the world.”<\/p>\n

Keane, who won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League trophy between 1993-2005 for United, told the Overlap that the reaction from European players was “ridiculous”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I’m no expert on golf, but you are telling me these players were under pressure because a few people were shouting?” Keane said.<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

“Come to Leeds or Anfield on a Tuesday night, let me tell you. These guys play in big tournaments every week, so all of a sudden they are going to be upset by a few Yanks?\u00a0<\/p>\n

“You’ve got McIlroy. He’s won all the big prizes. Do you think he’s going to be upset by a few people? It’s ridiculous.”<\/p>\n

Former Arsenal striker turned pundit Ian Wright reminded Keane of the abuse also extended to some golfers’ wives. McIlroy’s wife Erica<\/a> was struck by a beer.<\/p>\n

\"Ryder <\/p>\n

Ryder Cup<\/p>\n

Keane added: “They get upset because of their partners, but let me tell you what I would say to my partner.<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

“If I was a golfer and my partner was getting abuse, I’d tell them: ‘Just stay at the hotel, love. I’ll see you tonight when I get back.<\/p>\n

“They don’t come to all the other tournaments, but guess what\u2026 you get a new outfit and you come to the Ryder Cup!\u00a0<\/p>\n

“You’ve got a lovely new outfit, a new belt, a new handbag and they are getting loads of stick. Well, go home. I can guarantee, they are going back to a nice hotel, they are not in a camp, a tent.<\/p>\n

“They knew it was coming. It’s been built up for the last six months. Of course they knew they were going to get abused.”<\/p>\n

\"Rory <\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

Keane and McIlroy have history.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In January 2024, McIlroy appeared on the same podcast where he performed a dramatic U-turn on how he viewed the PIF-backed LIV Golf<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

McIlroy was one of LIV’s harshest critics but he told the pod that he was too judgemental of the players that decamped to the breakaway tour during the golf wars.<\/p>\n

Five months before he won The Masters, he explained just how much winning the green jacket would mean to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

An avid Man Utd fan, McIlroy also explained the Glazer family needed to leave the club.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

According to McIlroy, he asked Keane for an autograph when he was a kid. Keane refused.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I was down at the Parmer Links hotel and the Republic of Ireland team were staying there too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I saw one of my Manchester United heroes, Roy Keane, in the lobby and I must’ve been around 12 years old, so I went over to him asking for an autograph, so I went over to him asking for an autograph.<\/p>\n

\u00a0“He looked up at me and said, ‘not today kid’. But it was okay as it didn’t make an impression on me.”<\/p>\n

Watch:<\/p>\n

Roy Keane’s take on the wives and girlfriends of Ryder Cup players getting verbally abused by spectators. <\/p>\n

Our greatest comedian.pic.twitter.com\/6579WXzqdP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

Subscribe to our Newsletter