Rory McIlroy is departing Bethpage Black with the Ryder Cup trophy, a clear sign that he had the last laugh. However, he expressed his disappointment with the behavior of some fans during the tournament, stating that it crossed a line.
“I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week,” McIlroy said. “Golf has the ability to unite people. … It teaches you how to respect people. Sometimes this week, we didn’t see that. So, no, this should not be what is acceptable in the Ryder Cup.”
While rowdiness is expected at a Ryder Cup event, the behavior of some fans at Bethpage Black went too far. McIlroy and others faced verbal abuse and insults, with some fans even throwing drinks at players.
“Erica is fine. She’s a very, very strong woman,” McIlroy said in response to the incident involving his wife. “You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has.”
Despite the challenges, the European team emerged victorious, retaining the cup with a 15-13 win over the U.S. team. McIlroy acknowledged the difficulties they faced but emphasized that their performance on the course spoke for itself.
“Look, it was a rough week for all of us,” he said. “But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played, and we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that.”
McIlroy’s fiery response to a fan earlier in the week was a moment of satisfaction for him, highlighting the challenges faced by the European team throughout the tournament.