Rory McIlroy Fed Up with Rowdy Ryder Cup Fans

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood celebrate after securing a 3&2 win over Harris English and Collin Morikawa in the morning foursomes

Rory McIlroy swore at raucous Ryder Cup fans on Saturday before extra security was deployed to monitor rowdy galleries during his afternoon four-ball match alongside Shane Lowry.

“They made it difficult for us, but I felt like Shane and I, we handled that really well and dug in...”

Rory McIlroy had a heated exchange with American fans during the Ryder Cup, telling them to “shut the f*** up” as he prepared to play a shot. This incident occurred on Saturday at the Bethpage Black course, where McIlroy and his teammate Tommy Fleetwood were competing against Harris English and Collin Morikawa in the morning foursome match.

McIlroy explained that while he doesn't mind the banter between shots, the heckling became distracting when he was over the ball and trying to hit his shot. “In between shots, say whatever you want to me. That's totally fine. But just let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have,” McIlroy said after the match.

The European team, led by McIlroy and Fleetwood, won their match 3&2, contributing to Europe's 8.5-3.5 lead going into the afternoon session. McIlroy's partner for the afternoon session was Shane Lowry, and extra security was deployed to monitor the rowdy galleries during their match.

Rory McIlroy's match with Shane Lowry wasn't without controversy, as hecklers disrupted play. McIlroy told a rules official he wanted something done about the over-the-top annoyers after a spectator interrupted his putt on the fourth hole.

The crowd's behavior at Bethpage Black was criticized for crossing a line, with some fans directing excessive abuse at European players. Extra security staff were brought in to monitor the match.

After his 3&2 victory with Tommy Fleetwood over Harris English and Collin Morikawa, McIlroy expressed frustration with the crowd's behavior. While he expected a partisan atmosphere, some fans' actions went too far. McIlroy noted that he didn't mind banter but wanted respect while taking shots.

“I don't mind them having a go at us. That's to be expected. That's what an away Ryder Cup is,” McIlroy said Saturday. “Whenever they're still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that's the tough thing.

“Between shots, say whatever you want to me. That's totally fine. But give us the respect to let us hit shots and give us the same chance that the Americans have.”

Rory McIlroy faced intense scrutiny and verbal abuse from the crowd as Europe extended its lead over the United States. Despite the barrage of insults, McIlroy emphasized the importance of mental toughness and staying focused on the task at hand.

McIlroy had previously responded to hecklers with an obscene gesture on Friday, and he acknowledged that the hostile atmosphere was expected.

The European team's success on the course seemed to further inflame the crowd, with McIlroy bearing the brunt of their ire. Despite the challenges, McIlroy remained composed and focused on his game, contributing to Europe's growing lead in the Ryder Cup.

“It was rowdy and lively,” McIlroy said. “They made it difficult for us, but I felt like Shane and I, we handled that really well and dug in. Made some good swings and good putts when we needed to.”

Rory McIlroy has thrived under the intense atmosphere of the Ryder Cup, despite struggling to find a balance between engaging with hostile crowds and maintaining his focus on the game. The Northern Irish golfer has been a target of abuse from American fans at Bethpage Black, but he's learned to channel this energy into his performance.

“At times in the Ryder Cup, I've engaged too much with that, too much with the crowd,” McIlroy said.

“But then there's times where I haven't engaged enough. So it's really just trying to find the balance of using that energy from the crowd to fuel your performance.”

Rory McIlroy silenced a heckler with an expletive before hitting a superb approach to clinch victory for him and Tommy Fleetwood in their foursomes match. #RyderCup #McIlroy pic.twitter.com/oZphxaDFJn

— BPI News (@BPINewsOrg) September 27, 2025

McIlroy's Approach to Hostile Crowds:

• Between Shots: McIlroy doesn't mind banter between shots, but wants respect while taking shots.

• Focus on Performance: He prioritizes his game, using the intense atmosphere to fuel his performance.

• Past Experiences: McIlroy has faced hostile crowds before, including the 2024 U.S. Open, where he threw away a significant lead.

McIlroy's emotional investment in the Ryder Cup is evident, and he's drawn on past experiences, including his dramatic win at the Masters, to drive his performance.