Fan trouble at the Ryder Cup escalated on Saturday when a fistfight broke out in the grandstand.
10:23, 28 Sep 2025Updated 13:50, 28 Sep 2025
The Ryder Cup descended into chaos yesterday as tempers boiled over both on and off the course – with police and even sniffer dogs drafted in to keep order.
A fistfight reportedly broke out in the grandstand on the 18th green at Bethpage Black, capping a fiery day in which Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were repeatedly targeted by abusive spectators.
State troopers were deployed in force, lining the ropes during McIlroy and Lowry’s fourball clash with Cameron Young and Justin Thomas.
At one stage, Lowry had to be physically held back by his caddie after confronting a heckler, reports the US Mirror.
Crowds had turned hostile towards McIlroy, with chants of “F*** you Rory” ringing out and jeers following almost every shot. The barrage of abuse grew so intense that the PGA of America was forced to issue warnings to fans.
Lowry himself lost his cool after draining a putt, shouting an expletive back at the gallery. Earlier, McIlroy had confronted a spectator during his morning foursomes match alongside Tommy Fleetwood.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry of Team Europe celebrate defeating Justin Thomas and Cameron Young of Team United States(Image: Getty Images)
The hostility wasn’t limited to fans. On the course, there were angry flare-ups between players and caddies. Bryson DeChambeau clashed with Fleetwood after a fist-pump celebration from Justin Rose, while DeChambeau’s caddie Ted Scott had to be separated from Francesco Molinari following a heated bust-up.
Despite the chaos, Europe kept their composure on the scoreboard and head into the final day with a commanding 11.5–4.5 lead over Team USA.