FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — The scene at this Ryder Cup has turned ugly as disappointed American fans focus their ire on Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland and the star of this European team, is playing with Shane Lowry in the first match of the Saturday afternoon session at Bethpage Black, against the United States’ Justin Thomas and Shane Young. McIlroy has repeatedly had to step away from his golf ball as bad actors shout obscenities and personal insults at the career Grand Slam winner, who is normally one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour.
The PGA of America, which runs the Ryder Cup, and others involved in the match have taken to action, including Thomas. At least 20 police officers were on or around the tee box at No. 10, some of them on bicycles, in an attempt to dissuade spectators.
The PGA of America can and will eject spectators when it can single them out as bad actors, but it becomes much more difficult when it’s a crowd chanting or cheering in moments when silence is expected.
Europe is up 8 1/2 to 3 1/2 after three sessions, needing 14 total points to retain the cup, and that has changed the mood at this Ryder Cup. No road team has won the Ryder Cup since 2012, and part of the appeal of this location was supposed to be a crowd known for making their presence known at past major championships here.
Thomas has essentially become the primary marshal for the first afternoon session, waving down the crowd on every green to make it reasonably quiet for McIlroy and Lowry to putt.
That in and of itself has created an unusual scene of Thomas, known for his gregarious encouragement of crowd participation during this event, asking the crowd to get loud after he or Young executes a shot and then get quiet again for their competitors.
McIlroy backed off a putt on No. 4 when somebody yelled an obscenity directed at him. He waited a bit, backed off, talked to Lowry, then missed the putt. McIlroy then went over and spoke to a rules official. Lowry made his putt and looked back, slamming his chest.
A more noticeable police presence became apparent shortly thereafter. European vice captain Edoardo Molinari and the referee assigned to the match, Mike Raby, were in consistent conversation. While fans are also yelling at Lowry (and other European players), McIlroy seems to be getting the worst of it.
His frustration overflowed during his first match on Saturday. He was in the fairway on the 16th hole, going through his pre-shot routine when fans continued to yell at him. He turned and directed an obscenity back at them, which was caught on video and quickly shared on X.
“I don’t mind them having a go at us. Like, that’s to be expected,” McIlroy said in quotes distributed to the media. “I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is. Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing.
“You know, look, in between shots, say whatever you want to me. That’s totally fine. But just let us — you gave us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have, I guess.”
(Top photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)