Tensions exploded at the Ryder Cup, culminating in a fistfight amongst spectators in the grandstand overlooking the 18th green at Bethpage Black. Saturday’s action was charged with raw emotion, as Rory McIlroy endured relentless abuse from hostile crowds, forcing the PGA of America to step in with official warnings.
The mounting hostility between McIlroy and the gallery resulted in state police swarming Bethpage Black in a desperate bid to restore order. An entire formation of state troopers was positioned along the ropes during the match featuring McIlroy and Shane Lowry against Cameron Young and Justin Thomas, with police dogs also deployed. Lowry himself required physical intervention to prevent him from confronting an aggressive spectator.
Whilst fan-on-fan violence remains an ever-present threat at sporting occasions where passion and alcohol combine, it had been successfully avoided until the closing stages when a brawl erupted in the 18th hole grandstand.
Specifics regarding what triggered the altercation or the identities of those involved remain unknown, though it was characterised as “ugly” during an afternoon when fury threatened to overflow onto the course.
Driven by the torrent of abuse McIlroy was enduring, which prompted an official complaint, Lowry required restraint from his caddie.
European players have encountered fierce hostility from the crowd throughout the tournament, with McIlroy suffering chants of “F*** you, Rory” and constant barracking at virtually every stroke. After teeing off at the 11th hole, Lowry singled out a spectator who had made derogatory comments.
The Irish golfer then moved towards the crowd, seemingly ready to confront them directly – but his caddie held him back, and security stepped in before things could escalate.
Earlier during the fourballs, Lowry lost his cool and shouted a two-word expletive at a spectator following his successful putt. This incident followed McIlroy’s own confrontation with a fan during the morning foursomes when he was paired with Tommy Fleetwood.
In other incidents, Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, had a heated exchange with Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari.
Justin Rose asked DeChambeau’s caddie, Gregory Bodine, to move aside while he was reading his putt. After Rose sank his putt and celebrated with a fist pump, DeChambeau responded by sinking a birdie of his own.
As they left the green heading towards the 16th tee box, DeChambeau quickly caught up with his opponents and gave Fleetwood a piece of his mind following his team-mate’s gesture. Scott joined DeChambeau and spoke sternly to Rose until Molinari stepped in between the golfer and caddie.
Scott continued to berate Molinari, getting up close and personal with the Italian before Fleetwood and his caddie, Ian Finnis, intervened to separate the pair.
For Team USA, their battle was limited to off-field antics. Europe head into the final day of the Ryder Cup with a commanding 11.5-4.5 lead.
