Rory McIlroy expressed worry for his spouse, Erica Stoll, following an incident where she was allegedly hit by a drink thrown by an unruly crowd at the Ryder Cup event held at Bethpage Black Golf Course. While playing alongside Shane Lowry during Saturday’s four-ball session, McIlroy endured continuous taunts from the rowdy audience in New York.
The negative reception was anticipated by McIlroy, who has been a target of various jeers from the spectators. However, it appears that verbal insults were not the only form of aggression directed at McIlroy. Reports suggest that a spectator aimed a drink at the 36-year-old but accidentally struck his wife instead, as per Mirror US. In a widely circulated video, McIlroy can be seen comforting Stoll, removing something from her hat, and asking if she was unharmed.
The couple decided to distance themselves from the crowd, but Stoll kept glancing back, possibly searching for the individual responsible. Many golf enthusiasts took to social media to condemn the reported mistreatment towards Stoll, deeming it excessive.
Commentators emphasized the need to respect players’ families, stating that while passionate cheering is acceptable, resorting to physical actions crosses a moral boundary. This incident was not the first instance of McIlroy facing confrontations with spectators at Bethpage Black. On multiple occasions, he had to pause his shots due to offensive remarks and disruptions from hecklers.
Amid escalating personal attacks during the morning session, McIlroy halted his shot preparation and reprimanded the crowd for their behavior. Despite acknowledging that such hostility is part of the Ryder Cup experience on American soil, McIlroy highlighted the importance of mutual respect during gameplay.
As Team Europe dominated on Saturday, leading 11.5-4.5 against Team USA, the Ryder Cup will conclude with 12 singles matches on Sunday. The article also mentions a discounted offer by Sky for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the Ryder Cup event.