Rory McIlroy condemns Ryder Cup abuse after his wife was hit by a beer

Rory McIlroy spoke out against the abuse he received during Europe’s 15-13 Ryder Cup win. In a post-match press conference, McIlroy said: ‘I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf.’
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He added: ‘I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.’ The Masters champion also confirmed that his wife, Erica, was hit by a beer that was thrown during Saturday afternoon’s play.

McIlroy condemns ‘unacceptable’ Ryder Cup abuse and reveals his wife was hit by a beer ► https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/29/rory-mcilroy-condemns-unacceptable-ryder-cup-abuse-and-reveals-his-wife-was-hit-by-a-beer

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I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf. Um I think golf should be held to a higher standard than than what was, you know, than what was seen out there this week. Um golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette. It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people. Um and you know sometimes this week we didn’t see that. So uh no it this should not be what is acceptable in the RDER Cup. Um but you know we will be making sure to say to our fans in Ireland in 2027 that you know what happened here this week is is not acceptable. And it’s you know I for me it’s you know come and support your home team. you come and support your team. You know, I think if I was an American, I would be annoyed that people I didn’t hear a lot of shouts for Scotty today, but I heard a lot of shouts against me. And it’s like support your players, you know, that’s the that’s the thing. So, um, look, it was a rough week for all of us. Um, but at the same time, you know, we we shut them up by our performance and how we played and we we tried to, you know, I I tripped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we we tried to handle everything that came our way um with class and poise. And for the most part, I felt like we did that. Rory, it’s uh it’s one thing when the abuse is directed at you guys as players. That’s bad enough. Um, but it seemed to spill over to sort of friends and family, the entouragees of you guys. Obviously, there was a lot of people inside the ropes this week, but videos come out yesterday of of a beer being thrown at your wife. Firstly, is she okay? She seemed upset obviously after that. That’s obviously something no one wants to go through. What was your view on that situation? And just, you know, the direction of of this event as a whole with that in mind that families don’t feel comfortable inside the ropes. I mean, it’s uh it it it should be off limits, but it but obviously it wasn’t this week, but um Eric is fine. She is a very very strong woman. And um you know, she she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. And um I love her and um we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight. Can I can I just pick up on that if you don’t mind because I actually had no idea that Erica had a beer thrown at her yesterday. So fair play to Erica. She didn’t bring that to the team room. We didn’t make that a big deal. That’s news to me which is that says a lot about the strength of Erica and everybody in this team that they I was out there. I was I was out there for two days with Erica Maroy and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing and the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable and kudos to her for that. Go on, Erica and Rory. Um, with all that in mind and everything you go through, how satisfying is it to turn around to someone and say, quote, “Shut the f up.” And then stiff it to two feet. very satisfying. Congratulations