Rory McIlroy condemns fan abuse during Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy expressed feeling “sickened” by “horrific” comments directed at his young daughter by American fans during last year’s Ryder Cup in New York, reports BritPanorama.
The Northern Irish golfer highlighted the deeply personal nature of the abuse he experienced at Bethpage, noting that some spectators crossed a line by targeting his five-year-old daughter, Poppy, with their insults. McIlroy faced a barrage of hostile treatment from American crowds throughout the three-day event.
The abuse was not limited to verbal insults; McIlroy’s wife, Erica, was struck by a beer cup thrown by a spectator during the competition. In response to escalating tensions, authorities brought in police officers accompanied by dogs to restore order during the matches.
Discussing the ordeal on Sky Sports’ Stick to Football podcast, McIlroy stated: “I don’t care if people say whatever they’re saying to me… but when it starts to get into, I heard stuff about my daughter that I couldn’t even repeat here, it was horrific.”
McIlroy compared the crowd’s behaviour this year to the 2016 Ryder Cup in Minnesota, remarking that the treatment endured in 2025 was far worse. “There are 50,000 people there, all it takes is 500 of those to be bad eggs, and it skews the atmosphere,” he commented.
The European team collectively faced significant hostility from sections of the home crowd during their successful defence of the trophy, yet they managed to emerge victorious against the American side on their home turf.
Despite the challenges posed by unruly fans, McIlroy secured his individual matches, contributing to the team’s overall triumph. He also suggested that the home crowd advantage could be harnessed better: “Some of them did that, but obviously Keegan [Bradley] had the biggest platform… I feel like he could have said something on that Friday or Saturday night and he didn’t.”
The Ryder Cup continues to evoke intense rivalry, making it one of the most significant events in golf. The episode serves as a reminder of how the passion of sporting events can sometimes spiral into unacceptable behaviour. Cards could be drawn, but it’s the lines fans cross that leave lasting marks, both on and off the field.
