Douglas MacKinnon
| Special to The Post
Rory McIlroy’s birdie gives Europeans lead in all 4 Ryder Cup afternoon matches
Rory McIlroy’s birdie putt on the 14th hole put European teammate Shane Lowry and him ahead of the United States’ Justin Thomas and Cameron Young.
European golfer Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica, reportedly endured verbal abuse and had a beer thrown at them.The writer apologizes to the McIlroy family on behalf of Americans who respect the game of golf.
When I was about 10 years of age, my grandfather, George McNeil, introduced me to the legendary American golfer Francis Quimet. As in the amateur caddy who shocked the golf world by winning the 1913 U.S. Open in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Once or twice a year now, I watch the 2005 film titled “The Greatest Game Ever Played” starring Shia LaBeouf as Quimet and shake my head in amazement that my grandfather called him a friend and introduced me to that true gentleman.
And that is what Quimet was. A “true gentleman” on and off the course. As was my grandfather. A man who not only loved the game but continually preached its remarkable history as well as the etiquette and civility that should be displayed while on the course.
I thought about my grandfather and Mr. Quimet as I read and heard about the truly disgusting rhetorical assault the European Ryder Cup team had to endure this past weekend from presumably drunk, ignorant, and hate-filled American “fans” at Bethpage Black in New York. More than my grandfather and Mr. Quimet, the more I read and heard, the more I thought about Rory McIlroy, his wife Erica, and their family. For it was Mr. McIlroy – with his wife and family as collateral damage – who most had to endure the sadistic wrath of truly deranged fans.
A friend of mine was within earshot and told me it was without a doubt the most vile, continual and truly disturbing verbal assault he had heard in his life. As we have tragically seen of late, much of the country and the world seems to be on the razor’s edge of anarchy and despair. The last thing we need is to have “fans” bring irrational anger into a sporting event meant to hopefully distract us from the growing troubles of the world.
At one point on Saturday during the “Rage-Fest” directed against McIlroy, a beer was hurled at the Northern Irish golfer only to hit his wife, Erica. Please take just a moment to wrap your mind around that. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Bethpage Black an American became so consumed by anger that he threw a beer at Europe’s best player and hit his wife in the process.
Shockingly, getting doused by a beer may have been the least offensive thing that happened to the very classy and dignified Erica Stoll. As was relayed by fellow Irish golfer Shane Lowry: “I was out there for two days, and I’m not gonna lie, the amount of abuse she received was astonishing.”
Seriously. What have we come to?
Number of F-Bombs fired at Rory McIlroy over the top
It was also reported that the number of F-Bombs fired at McIlroy became uncountable. One after the other. Often attached to the most personal and repulsive of insults. And for what? Because he was playing a game he has loved – and excelled at – since he was a child? Because he was representing his country and Europe in a “Gentlemen’s Game” to see who would have the bragging rights until 2027? Because on any given day, he is the best golfer in the world?
Something has truly broken in more and more people. And it’s much more than just their minds. It’s their respect for themselves, for their families and for humanity.
Off and on during my professional career, I have had the high honor to be among some of America’s most distinguished combat veterans. First, to a man, they were the finest “gentlemen” I have ever met. They served – and fought – for a cause much larger than themselves with many paying a very severe price.
Second, at times when I spoke with them, I saw the same far-away lost gaze I saw in McIlroy over the weekend. To be clear, I am not comparing what McIlroy endured to a billionth of what a combat veteran has experienced. But what I am saying is that after three days of a constant barrage from the most ugly and despicable insults directed at him, I did see the look of a human being lost in the incomprehensible pain of it all. His mind could simply not process the hate.
A beautiful weekend in New York devolved into one of the ugliest and most shameful displays of unhinged fury in the history of sports. I am here to tell Rory McIlroy, his wife Erica, and his family that that is not America. That is not our nation.
In honor of my grandfather, in honor of Mr. Quimet, and in honor of all in my country who love the game of golf and truly respect you, your ability, and the good you have done for so many, I offer my sincere apologies for what you and your family went through.
For the sake of us all, we have to be better than this.
Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of the book: The 56 – Liberty Lessons from those who risked all to sign The Declaration of Independence.
