Heading into this year’s Ryder Cup, it seemed that the American players were keen to stoke up the flames of potential rivalry with their European counterparts. That was especially true of Bryson DeChambeau, who was quick to raise the possibility of a run-in with Rory McIlroy at Bethpage.
Those two players do have some recent history. DeChambeau would beat McIlroy to the 2024 US Open, before that result was reverse at The Masters earlier this year.
After that tournament, the American was peeved off over the fact that McIlroy did not hold any sort of conversation with him during the final round despite being playing partners. Ahead of the Ryder Cup, he would suggest that he would ‘chirp in [McIlroy’s] ear’ if given the chance at Bethpage.
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Americans Rattled By Rory McIlroy’s Bryson DeChambeau Gesture At Ryder Cup
While Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau would not come head-to-head at the Ryder Cup, it was ultimately the European talisman that would have the last laugh in New York.
Not only did he take home the trophy, but he would also cheekily cover up the American’s name with a European flag during the ensuing celebrations.
Rory gets the last laugh on Bryson pic.twitter.com/pWhenMSAUd
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 29, 2025
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It was all done in good fun, but the move has seemingly rattled quite a few American fans.
They would take to social media to question McIlroy’s behaviour during this incident.
You can’t behave like this and wonder why people don’t like you pic.twitter.com/xPs6BKdpqU
— Phillip 🇺🇸⛳️ (@ppargolfer) September 29, 2025
Rory McIlroy: “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.”
Also Rory McIlroy:
pic.twitter.com/jD4E1lHsBc
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 29, 2025
I’ve always liked Rory, but not sure why he feels the need to constantly take shots at Bryson. Just celebrate your well deserved win with your team without putting other players down. https://t.co/0G9EtVLFKR
— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) September 29, 2025
Don’t preach about golf etiquette and decorum if you’re going to also do this. What a hypocrite @McIlroyRory https://t.co/pYSTAyPnuv
— 🇺🇸 Caleb Rutherford 🇺🇸 (@c_rutherford23) September 29, 2025
Was this before or after his talk about holding golf to a higher standard? Ha @McIlroyRory you’re everything you cried about all week ha https://t.co/yyxek8ZkGw
— Dylan Ausherman (@DylanAusherman) September 29, 2025
Doing this and then bitching about the fans heckling you is why Rory is such a loser https://t.co/NkNMySLlGD
— Jerome Johnson (@jjballz12) September 29, 2025
Of course, such complaints look rather ironic when you consider the treatment that Rory McIlroy and his family were subjected to during the Ryder Cup.
Not only was he met with a barrage of insults for three days on the spin, but his wife was also targeted and even struck with a drink thrown from the crowd at one point.
In comparison, blocking out an opposition player’s name with a European flag seems rather tame.
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