Team Europe’s Rory McIlroy is already planning how he is going to handle a fiery crowd at this month’s Ryder Cup, and he could well take note of how tennis star Novak Djokovic dealt with fans
Rory McIlroy is pulling out all of the stops to ensure he is ready for the raucous crowd at Bethpage Black(Image: YouTube/Sky Sports Golf)
Rory McIlroy will tap into the mentality of Novak Djokovic to cope with the Bethpage Black crowd in this month’s Ryder Cup. The 35-year-old will be representing Team Europe alongside his Olympic partner Shane Lowry.
Europe captain Luke Donald has to ensure his team’s prepared to take on the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau while a number of New York spectators hurl verbals. McIlroy’s not the only one who’s had his fair share of run-ins with American fans in the past, as the friends and families of Team Europe players have also been subjected to heckling and abuse stateside.
However, the Northern Irishman – joined on Team Europe by Bob MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Hojgaard, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick – says he’s taking a leaf out of Djokovic’s book, who has won numerous titles despite so often being the pantomime villain of tennis.
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Speaking to The Washington Times about Djokovic, McIlroy said: “He’s been the best at handling that (abuse from spectators). He’s had to deal with it his whole life, whether it’s playing against an American in New York or playing against Roger [Federer] or Rafael [Nadal]. He came and spoke to us a little bit about that stuff last time in Rome.
“He came and spoke to us a little bit about that stuff last time in Rome. So maybe taking a leaf out of his book and channelling that energy the right way. But again, all we can do is control our reaction and our emotions to it. I think the less we play into it, the better it is for us.”
McIlroy will always remember the 2016 tournament at Hazeltine International, Minnesota, when he attempted to have one particularly abusive spectator removed.
Without detailing what he heard, McIlroy said the fan was shouting “derogatory things I thought were over the line.”
Lowry, in addition to adopting McIlroy’s approach, might also need to pass on his team-mate’s advice to his wife Wendy. At the 2021 tournament, which saw Team USA thrash Europe 19-9, the Irish golfer confessed he was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome he received from US fans at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
Rory McIlroy had many exchanges with the crowd in the 2016 Ryder Cup(Image: 2016 Getty Images)
Sadly for his other half, she and many others linked with Team Europe did not receive the same level of respect. After securing a point alongside Tyrell Hatton, Lowry revealed: “I didn’t think it was that bad until I asked my wife what it was like for her.
“They got dog’s abuse going around as well. It’s not very nice for them to have to listen to it, but that’s a small percentage of the crowd. Some of the stuff is not very nice. But look, that’s just the way it is.
“Some people are idiots, especially when they drink. Nobody turns into a genius with drinking and that’s what they were doing last week, especially if you were out in the afternoon matches. It was loud.
Lowry’s wife also got abused by some US fans at the 2021 Ryder Cup(Image: 2019 Getty Images)
“As a team it was hard for us to perform our best because you stand up and you hit a three-iron into 10 feet from 250 yards and you don’t even get a ripple of applause. You almost get booed for it.”
Last September, US captain Keegan Bradley made it clear any spectators at Bethpage Black this year will be shown the door if their behaviour is unacceptable. Bradley, who chose not to become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963, said: “The PGA of America has things in place for each group to monitor the situation.
“If you act inappropriately you’re going to be asked to leave the tournament. I hope and expect the fans will respect what the guys are doing but also at the same time be lively and supporting our team.”
