FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Rory McIlroy told fans to “Shut the f— up!” after they were yelling during his pre-shot routine in the morning foursomes session of the Ryder Cup on Saturday, and the heckling continued to ramp up in the afternoon four-balls.
Sitting 2 up during his and Tommy Fleetwood’s match against Collin Morikawa and Harris English, McIlroy was in the right rough near the gallery about to hit his approach shot when he backed off and shouted the remark at the crowd.
McIlroy went through his routine again and hit the shot to a few feet, where Fleetwood’s birdie putt closed out the 3-and-2 win for the Europeans.
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During the afternoon four-ball matches, McIlroy, who was paired with Shane Lowry, continued to be heckled, and increased security was added to their group.
On the sixth green, McIlroy had to step off his putt multiple times because of noise from the gallery. A rules official was brought in, and McIlroy spoke to him about the situation before eventually hitting the putt.
Later, on the 10th hole, a fan in the gallery was ejected after being singled out by Lowry. Following his tee shot, Lowry alerted a member of the New York State Police on hand to point out the fan, who was then removed. At least 10 troopers were following the match as the hostilities continued to rise.
“I don’t mind them having a go at us. Like, that’s to be expected. I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is,” McIlroy said after his morning match. “Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing.”
McIlroy and Lowry went on to beat Justin Thomas and Cameron Young, 2-up, in the afternoon. After it ended, McIlroy was asked if the crowds went too far.
“Look, when you play an away Ryder Cup it’s really really challenging,” he said. “It’s not for me to say. People can be their own judge on if they take it too far or not. I’m just proud of us for being able to win with what we had to go through.”
On Friday, McIlroy was the subject of much heckling from the Bethpage Black crowd, especially in the afternoon session. Multiple times throughout the four-ball match, U.S. team member Sam Burns had to raise his hand to quiet the crowd before McIlroy hit a shot.
“In between shots, say whatever you want to me,” McIlroy said. “But just let us — you gave us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have, I guess.”
On the first tee both mornings, the crowd has started “F— you, Rory” chants. When he was announced on the first tee Saturday, McIlroy blew kisses to the crowd as it booed him.
In four matches so far, McIlroy has won three and halved another. Two wins have come along with Fleetwood in foursomes; the other was with Lowry on Saturday in four-ball.
