Europe ready for Rory McIlroy taunts from rowdy US Ryder Cup fans
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Rory McIlroy of Europe greets the attendence during the opening ceremony before the 2025 Ryder Cup.
PHOTO: EPA
FARMINGDALE – Europe’s golfers are ready for Rory McIlroy to become a heckling magnet for raucous United States supporters when the Ryder Cup begins on Sept 26 at Bethpage Black.
McIlroy, who won the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam, leads holders Europe into his eighth Cup showdown, the most of any player in this week’s tournament.
The five-time Major winner from Northern Ireland was greeted with a chorus of boos from spectators at the first tee on Sept 24 during a practice round.
He has aimed some choice remarks at US star Bryson DeChambeau and is known for emotional moves such as cupping his hand to his ear after sinking long putts to silence US crowds in past Cups on American soil.
“Rory is very comfortable with himself. I think he has thick skin. I think that he can handle the blowback of if he says something that he believes and it is not taken in the right way,” England’s Justin Rose said.
“He’s happy to see it how he sees it and call it how he sees it. He has the freedom on the golf course to just roll with that. He always plays incredibly freely, and I think that’s probably the line where Rory can tiptoe better than most.”
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg knows fans in New York will be doing their best to unsettle his team.
“There’s always going to be a little bit of chirping going on,” he said. “You’re going to be hearing a lot of things, which is a part of it.”
Being partnered with McIlroy, however, is not something European players will shy away from because of heckling, England’s Tommy Fleetwood said.
“Whoever gets to play with Rory this week, what a privilege. What an amazing thing to be able to do,” he said. “If I’m one of them that gets a chance to play with him, I would love that opportunity.”
While heckling is expected, American Justin Thomas, a two-time Major winner, said family insults are where hecklers must draw the line.
“You definitely hear some stuff. It’s tough,” he said. “A Ryder Cup, you kind of know what you’re going to get.
“(Where) I think all the players are in the same boat is once it ever gets to a point of being a little bit more personal of families, family members.
“If we’re not playing well and you’re talking trash about us, we probably deserve it, but if you start getting into the loved ones, that’s I think when everybody starts really getting a little bit chippy.” AFP
