The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black was intended to highlight American enthusiasm for golf on its most significant international competitive platform. However, it devolved into a three-day spectacle of boos, slurs, chants, and beer-throwing that left Rory McIlroy pausing mid-putt, Bryson DeChambeau attempting to kickstart the event with a “We Will Rock You,” to maintain a patriotic spirit, and ESPN’s Mike Greenberg silencing his television in revulsion.
Europe secured a 15–13 victory in New York, but Greenberg let loose on Omaha Production’s “This Is Football,” hosted by Kevin Clark on ESPN 2.
The longtime MikeandMike radio host and SportsCenter star labeled the crowd as “repulsive, reprehensible, disgusting” and insisted it wasn’t a reflection of the United States but of the thousands who “checked their humanity at the door”. It comes after golf legend Tom Watson admitted his shame at the scenes emerging from the tournament.
“I’m not embarrassed as an American,” he stated. “I just consider it a reflection on this collection of idiots that showed up at this thing.”
McIlroy and his family bore the brunt of most of the verbal abuse, forcing him to even say, “Guys, shut the —- up” after being yelled at while lining up a putt. His wife, Erica Stoll, was heckled and had a drink thrown at her in the gallery.
Shane Lowry couldn’t comprehend the booing during his pre-shot routine, reports the Mirror US.
Matt Fitzpatrick was taunted during practice rounds and even attributed the heated crowd to his decision not to have his parents attend the event.
The situation escalated to the point where event emcee Heather McMahan initiated a Day 2 chant of “—- you Rory” from the first tee, later issuing an apology and stepping down. The PGA of America confirmed her resignation. Greenberg confessed that he had to mute the broadcast to bear watching it.
“I enjoyed watching without the sound so much more than I enjoyed watching with the sound, because I thought the crowds were so grotesque,” he remarked.
He emphasized that the behavior of the crowd overshadowed the competition itself, “That to me was the story of this Ryder Cup, much more than anything anyone else did. I don’t blame the players, I don’t blame Keegan Bradley, I don’t blame anyone but the people who participated.”
The atmosphere was labeled as “toxic” and “beyond unsportsmanlike” by fans and commentators online. Greenberg rejected the idea that the Ryder Cup audience represented the United States as a whole.
“It was a disgrace, but it’s not a reflection of our country. It’s a reflection of people who lost control at a golf event.”
Europe dominated Day 1, taking a 4-0 lead in the morning foursomes, with Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton overcoming DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4and3, while Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland narrowly beat Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
The U.S. demonstrated vitality in the afternoon fourballs with Thomas and Cameron Young defeating Justin Rose and Fitzpatrick, yet the scoreboard still leaned towards Europe in the worst American start in modern Ryder Cup history. Day 2 witnessed the duo of Tommy Fleetwood and McIlroy disregarding the commotion to triumph over Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
Robert MacIntyre executed a momentum-preserving par that essentially secured the victory.
