Gary Player has slammed the 2025 Ryder Cup saying that the behaviour of the US fans at Bethpage Black made the event into a shambles.
Europe made history in New York as they held off a gallant fightback from Keegan Bradley’s side to win 15-13 for a first away triumph since 2012 and fifth overall.
But the narrative in the fallout has been about the abhorrent abuse that Rory McIlroy and the European team received across the three competition days. McIlroy’s wife Erica was almost struck by a beer while the first tee emcee whipped the fans into a frenzy with cries of “F you Rory.”
Player could not believe what he was watching.
“I look at it and I’m in a state of shock,” Player, now 90, told The Palm Beach Post.
“I think, what would Ben Hogan have said, you know? What would Byron Nelson have said? What would Arnold Palmer [think]? If Arnold Palmer saw that today…
“I was disgusted. So to me, the Ryder Cup is a shambles.”
Player also condemned the Ryder Cup as the worst event in the world.
The South African added: “I love the fact that they say ‘USA, USA.’ I love [how] the British respond in their way. I think that’s exciting. But the Ryder Cup to me is the worst event in the world.
“And to see [the PGA of America] hire a lady to stand on the tee — if you want to call her a lady — and saying ‘F you, Rory. F this European team.’”
The PGA of America came in for scathing criticism for their apparent lack of appetite to address the situation or even acknowledge the severity of it.
President of the PGA of America Don Rea, refused to acknowledge the level of abuse initially.
Player added: “And then the head of the [PGA of America] says, what was so serious about it?
“Golf has never been that. Golf has been a gentleman’s sport. So, and to see that, and to see the players using this ‘F’ word, I mean, the whole lot.”
