Rory McIlroy has made eight Ryder Cup appearances for Europe
Rory McIlroy has suggested that United States captain Keegan Bradley could have used his position to mitigate abusive crowd behavior at last year’s Ryder Cup, but failed to seize the opportunity.
Europe secured a 15-13 victory over the US at Bethpage Black, retaining the trophy and becoming the first away team to win since 2012.
However, their triumph was marred by relentless heckling in New York, with McIlroy’s wife, Erica, reportedly struck by a drink thrown by an American fan, and both she and their young daughter, Poppy, subjected to “horrific” abuse.
“We anticipated a degree of hostility heading to New York,” McIlroy stated during an appearance on The Overlap., external
McIlroy dismissed an incident involving a Bethpage MC who joined in with an expletive-laden chant about him, characterizing it as insignificant “compared to the other stuff we heard.”
“I’m indifferent to personal insults,” McIlroy said.
“My wife Erica considers herself resilient and capable of handling such behavior. However, when the abuse extends to family, including comments about my daughter that I won’t repeat, it becomes reprehensible.”
He believes Bradley could have influenced the atmosphere, preventing it from becoming toxic for the visiting team.
The world number two elaborated: “Keegan and I have discussed this. Leveraging the home-field advantage is understandable.
“However, after witnessing the conduct on Friday and Saturday, there was an opportunity for Keegan, or another team member, to advocate for a more sportsmanlike environment.
“While some individuals did attempt to do so, Keegan, as captain, possessed the largest platform. I believe a statement from him on Friday or Saturday evening could have been impactful, but it didn’t materialize.”
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Despite typically enjoying popularity among American fans on the PGA Tour, McIlroy faced considerable hostility as the abuse escalated during Friday and Saturday’s play, coinciding with Luke Donald’s team establishing a seven-point lead.
The crowd’s behavior has drawn comparisons to the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline and the charged atmosphere of Hazeltine in 2016.
However, McIlroy, 36, who was seen swearing at a spectator during Saturday’s foursomes, described the crowd’s conduct as “by far” the worst he has encountered.
“The 2016 Ryder Cup in Minnesota was unpleasant, but it pales in comparison to what we experienced this year,” he added.
“It reflects a broader societal trend, this mob mentality where individuals emulate negative behavior, leading to escalation.
“With 50,000 people present, a small minority of 500 can significantly impact the atmosphere.
“During the initial two days of the Ryder Cup, the density of the crowd around the holes exacerbates the issue. Sunday’s atmosphere improved due to the dispersal of the crowd across the 12 matches.
“The Ryder Cup remains a valuable asset for golf, offering a unique partisan atmosphere that fuels rivalry and captivates audiences. It is arguably the sport’s most significant tournament.”