Bethpage Black was always going to be loud. But on Saturday, it crossed the line.
Day 2 at the Ryder Cup saw some of the wildest scenes unfold around the European team, especially Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who faced abuse targeting families, appearances and private matters. The hostility escalated to such a degree that the PGA of America was compelled to increase security around the group.
But amid the chaos, one staffer stood out for all the wrong reasons.
Heather McMahan, the first tee emcee, reportedly made no attempt to defuse the escalating crowd tension. Instead, just moments before the morning foursomes began, she grabbed a megaphone and shouted “F*** you, Rory!”—a chant that quickly spread through the grandstands as fans joined in.
Within minutes, social media lit up with outrage, condemning the staff’s conduct and questioning the ethical tone of the event.
“Someone on the payroll of the @PGA, who was paid to lead the crowd in chants, led them in a ‘F*** you, Rory’ this morning as parents sat in the stands with their kids at the @rydercup,” one post read on X.
While other fans chimed in, posting, “And the state of morality.”
The backlash reached a tipping point by Saturday afternoon, prompting swift action. As reported by Golfweek’s Josh Carpenter, Heather McMahan issued a personal apology to Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup Europe and resigned from her role as first tee emcee.
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But the banter took a darker turn as the match moved into the afternoon. On the 17th green, a moment unfolded that left the golf world stunned.
As seen in a video posted by Nuclr Golf on X, a drink appeared to be thrown at Erica Stoll, Rory McIlroy’s wife, as tensions around the European group reached a boiling point.
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McIlroy was seen gently brushing something off her hat and asking, “Are you OK?” before the two quietly stepped away from the crowd. Stoll later turned back, her glare seemed aimed directly at the person she believed responsible.
The video spread quickly, and social media rallied behind her, calling the incident “disgusting” and “well beyond the line.”
Yet, in the thick of it all, McIlroy and Lowry held their nerve. They delivered another win for Europe, pushing the team to a commanding 11.5–4.5 lead heading into Sunday.
It’s the largest margin Europe has carried into the final round in modern Ryder Cup history. The last time they won on American soil was 2012 at Medinah. Now, they’re just 3.5 points away from retaining the trophy.
Team USA, meanwhile, faces a near-impossible task of winning at least 10 points out of the 12 on Sunday.
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