Tyrrell Hatton doesn’t think the crowds at the 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare Manor will be as abusive as what he and his European teammates had to endure last week in Bethpage Black and hopes such hostility is stamped out of the biennial contest.
There will always be a place for good natured ribbing, banter and the odd jibe but the personal abuse that Rory McIlroy in particular, Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre had to take from the US crowd was way over the line. Hatton, who is a fan’s favourite in Ireland is expecting a much more respectful Limerick crowd in two years.
“I don’t really think that the insults is the way forward,” he said ahead of his bid for a fourth Alfred Dunhill Links title at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie on the DP World Tour.
“I would much prefer it to be a respectful atmosphere – you let the guys play and the best team wins, rather than trying to affect the outcome by trying to put off players.
“But I don’t think it will be as hostile (in 2027) as maybe as it was last week. I would like to think that it will be very respectful.”
Hatton, MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are the Ryder Cup heroes in town this week.
Hatton secured the winning half point in his Sunday singles match with Collin Morikawa and it is safe to say that there is a world of difference between the hostile and volatile atmosphere last week and the relative tranquility of the links this.
While Hatton doesn’t expect the European fans to be riled up to try and give some payback to the USA team in two years, there hasn’t been much in the way of condemnation towards the disgusting behaviour of the home crowd by the powers that be.
McIlroy was subjected to constant jibes with some fans attacking him about his personal life, his major championship losses, his height, while someone hurled a homophobic slur towards him and another threw a beer at his wife Erica.
Lowry and MacIntyre were also subject to consistent abuse about their weight.
USA captain Keegan Bradley and PGA of America president Don Rea both refused to condemn the behaviour of the US fans who were stoked into cries of “f*** you Rory” by the first tee announcer.
Fleetwood who had a front row seat to some of the insults thrashed at McIlroy in their two foursomes matches feels that there is a place for hostility at the Ryder Cup, but personal abuse is way over the line.
“There is a big difference between a hostile environment and personal comments. Again, I think we were all prepared for it,” said Fleetwood, who was named the recipient of the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award.
“Personal comments can go too far, and you obviously hope that that doesn’t happen again, or it shouldn’t happen, but it is just so out of our control.”
Fleetwood added “One of the amazing things about the Ryder Cup is the home fans or away fans and the atmosphere that it creates.
“Who knows what happens in the future, but this particular Ryder Cup, we were all very prepared for and it showed how we played.”
