Both Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were spotted laughing as European fans sung a song directed at Donald Trump.
Rory McIlroy of Team Europe reacts alongside the Ryder Cup trophy as Team Europe celebrates their 15-13 win over Team America(Image: (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images))
Both Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry couldn’t hide their sniggers after European fans chanted “Are you watching Donald Trump?” after Europe’s epic Ryder Cup win over USA at Bethpage Black.
President Trump, a well known golf lover, showed up to New York on Friday to watch day one of the Ryder Cup, and the US President has a close relationship with defeated captain Keegan Bradley.
With America’s backs to the wall, Trump was nowhere to be seen over the weekend, though one wonders whether he would have made a miraculous appearance had Team USA somehow managed to sneak a win.
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In the end, Shane Lowry stemmed the red, white and blue momentum, stealing a vital half point against Russell Henley to retain the trophy, with Tyrrell Hatton and Bob MacIntyre both winning half points late on to hand Europe a 15-13 win.
At the trophy presentation, the 12 members of Team Europe and captain Luke Donald stood waiting to be introduced. While this was going on, European fans launched into a rendition of “Are you watching Donald Trump?”
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This chant drew a laugh from both Lowry and McIlroy, with TV cameras even showing a jubilant Lowry joining in with the chant himself.
Before the presentation, an emotional Lowry spoke to Sky Sports about what winning the Ryder Cup on American soil meant to him.
“I’ve been so lucky to experience amazing things in this game. That was the hardest couple hours of my life, honestly,” said Lowry.
“I can’t believe that ball went in. I stood over it and went ‘this is it’.”
Lowry has had some amazing moments in golf, none more so than when he won the Open in Royal Portrush in 2019, but the Irishman has a special connection with the Ryder Cup, and it’s clear that today’s win meant more to him than anything.
“I said to Darren walking down 18, ‘I have the chance to do the coolest thing in my life here.’
“The Ryder Cup means everything to me. I won the Open in Ireland but the Ryder Cup is everything.
“To do that on the 18th in front of everyone. It was so hard. Fair play to the US lads. We knew they would come out fighting.
“I just hope one of the boys can get a half point so we can get the win.”